I Was Sober That Night

I was sober that night, straight as Sunday.

My proud father's house burned down to the ground,

Midnight on my sister's sixteenth birthday.

Old wood succumbed to fresh, flaming waylay,

Wild wind smothering thick smoke without sound.

I was sober that night, straight as Sunday,

Deafened by sleep- a breath-thickened hallway-

While the house swam in flames, soon to be drowned.

Midnight on my sister's sixteenth birthday,

Ashes painted the late-August sky gray,

Buried prized fortunes that never were found,

I was sober that night, straight as Sunday.

After the fire, the whole house burned away,

A skeleton hunched on a black background.

Midnight on my sister's sixteenth birthday-

It was my fault, I lit those candles wind-way,

My father in tears, his ship run aground.

I swear I was sober, straight as Sunday,

The night of my sister's sixteenth birthday.