Prairie Style

The idea he had was to put the door

Off to the side, slightly off center

Hard to detect, obscured by leaves and

Branches, hidden, nothing terribly grand.

So it would blend into the landscape

And preserve cherished privacy.

It was madness to keep the hall

Wide open and accessible to all,

Or even to acquaintances one step

From being strangers on a street corner,

To bring them into the shelter and share

The warmth of the fire was to tear

At the underpinnings of sanity,

Upsetting, overturning the inner balance.

I see the flat plains stretching out

to the mountains and sky with a shout.

When the home is open to any

With out discretion or prudence

Then the inner chambers become a mess

Confusion rules a game of chess.

With pieces flying and tempers fraying

And no peace in a disturbed hearth.

Outside fresh paint and decorative brightness

Inside loathing, nausea and darkness.