Still in the Fire Pit

by Stephanie Karpeuk

I just wanted you to know

you ruined my favorite chair.

We never could get the stain out—

No bleach. No scrubbing.

So we cleansed it the best way

we could: in flames.

Thick black smoke rose

and tried to cling to the

bare treetops nearby

before fading away.

And we watched the chair burn until

only the wooden frame was left,

then we chopped up the remains

and left them in the pit as kindling.

The only problem is

now there’s this hole

in the family room

where that chair used to be.