Family Gathering

by Thomas PItre
(Sequim, Washington, USA)

I was picked up
by one leg
dropped hard
onto the middle
of the living room.

I sat there for a long time
looking at the flocked wallpaper.
A lady in a bright, red dress
joined me,
sitting quietly,
expressionless,
staring straight at me
her legs opened in a wide
"V"
her back straight and stiff.

Two little kids and a dog
joined us.
A boy, about ten
a girl, five.
The dog was
solid black.
His mouth open
as if to bark,
but I couldn't hear anything,
only the adenoidal breathing
of the little girl
playing
with her doll house
and
creating her own
little family gathering
in the living room of a
tiny cardboard house.