Of Guilt and Guidance

I.

It's a wonder, at this age,
dad still shows you
how to extinguish a fire.

When flames leapt from

the stove the other night

you stood frozen.

You knew guilt
was a house
burning in silence.

II.

The day mom slipped

and hit her face on the floor

was the day guilt became

an elderly woman by the door

asking for

a cold glass of water.