untied

[natroyce]

slick black tie dusted with cinnamon hanging on the back of this chair

broken glass covers the floor

past the stairway family album fallen open

scattered pictures all show their backs

within the next room photograph of a nursing tree covers the wall

whoever captured the image had mastered nature of light

past there was the white shag carpet stained with drops of red wine

suddenly I realize how alone I am

I move forward with a wet towel to clean the stains

after I finished I take four steps back to see how well I had done

this is when I see the bloody footprints