The Fight

The firestorm brought down the house,
both of us shouting,
the children barricaded
in their rooms.

Then you threw the glass,

Our anger flew: shattered glass across the floor.
We dissolved in helpless laughter,
whooping
as before we had shouted.

Then there was silence in the room.
My son crept back
and his sister,
eyes large as the eyes of owls.

It's alright, I tried to tell them,
it's alright now,
but I had to put on my shoes
to cross the floor.