Compost

i re-opened that can of meat
and potatoes in the bottom cupboard
and it was still filled with ash-worms.
i could tell from the piles of blackened
bone lying about, they had just picked
the gristle out of their sharp little teeth.
they were smiling at me.
i thought i heard one chirp when
i began to regurgitate for them.
the entire house went up in flame
and it was as though my mother had
begun laughing again.