by Maria Barrett, New Orleans Writer & Poet

The house was old and wise

Tall ceilings and pocket doors 

and layers of wallpaper 

that peeled here and there 

and all the prettier for it. 

At Christmas 

a tall tree stood in the entry 

gold stars and strands of white lights 

hung like pearls on an important lady

 and we all cried because we forgot

 she was so lovely.