The Central Home

Painting by Molina Campos.
“The Central Home” by Stephen Page
The Central Home has lights!

It was once the Malingerer’s home,

Dark and lawned with lemon-tree stumps.

Once it was only called House 21,

But now the hardest worker lives

There, the tamer of horses,

The counter of cows, the planter of trees.

All that is good radiates

From there. Even in the blindness

Of noon. Look! The light has cracked the chimney

And burned the floors!

Misionero, do your recorridos,

The count lessening has no excuse.

Do not allow your lot to pass

To overripe clover, do not fall

Into a crack, do not allow

The Central Home to become again

House 21. Let it center the ranch,

Let it be an example.

I have given you electricity,

And fixed your doors.

Misionero, keep it your home.

By #StephenPage #FinishingLinePress #ARanchBorderingtheSalltyRiver @flpbooks

Stephen Page
Author: The Timbre of Sand, Still Dandelions, A Ranch Bordering the Salty River. Alum: Palomar College, Columbia University, Bennington College. Follow on twitter @SmpageSteve on Instagram @smpagemoria on Facebook @steven.page.1481