the first house

squared yards
against the lumber
of new
houses, more
plastic now
than wood
and brick, meant
not to last
a lifetime, but
long enough
to see the children
off, so few want to
stay where
they start, seems
lazy, and
without pride
or ambition
to accept at
such an age
your lot.
the place
where you begin
so proudly
feels like failure
if still there
at that bitter
end.