the new roof

all day the workers
are on the house.
some tied by ropes
to the chimney.
the ladders
lean against the slant
of the tall roof.
the shingles
go up in stacks,
the hammers hammer.
there is no talking
that you can hear.
bottles are tilted
to dry mouths.
the sun bristles,
the steam rises.
boards are nailed down.
by early evening
everyone is gone
as if they were never
there. only the new
roof is any proof
of what went on here.