HOUSE OF CARDS

fireseed: it has gone forever, i tell you!
muse: what has?
fireseed: yesterday

he sits slumped in his chair
his glazed eyes staring away into space
she has flung herself to the floor
her despair smothered by the pile of the carpet
her arms thrown forward in sorrow
her braceleted wrists bound together as if by handcuffs
a half-eaten apple lies next to her on the floor
either side of the sitting room
their twin portraits adorn the wall
one of the children turns her head, curious
the other little girl watches intently
as their fragile house of cards begins to tumble
reflected in the mirror an open door
to the left of the mantelpiece
above her small portrait
eve, beguiled by the serpent, is ejected from paradise
to the right, above his
a broken ship succumbs to the waves
abandoned by its crew
a third portrait lies on the floor next to his foot
and in his hand...
a letter