making the home presentable

as children

we were given the task

of cleaning up

after mom

and dad

battled into the late

night hours.

engaging in a full blown

domestic war.

one sister was in charge

of sweeping

up the glass,

while i rubbed the blood

off the walls.

a brother, nailed

the screen door back on,

while

another

hid the whiskey bottles.

we turned the chairs

back over,

we put the knives

and forks

back into the drawer,

scooped

up cold chicken bones,

and peas from

the floor.

we had to make the place

presentable before

the welfare

department came knocking

at the door.