exposed

[saw]

the exposed bricks
in my house are warm
like a temperament
reds, browns, salmons
they are well over a hundred years old
some have burn marks
from the metal racks in the firing ovens
they are calming'in the same manner as a hug

earth tones that strike notes of contentment,
comfort, longevity, the mortar is also a highlight
that frames the picture, together they are simpatico

it was a hell of a lot of work
removing all that plaster, but when you are
twenty something you're an idealist
with crazy ideas and plenty of energy
ingesting dust in every orifice was nothing
that could stop me

so pleased I followed through
one wheelbarrow after another
over two planks from the porch
into the borrowed dump truck
piles of masonry mountains
in that Mack, and I couldn't have done it
without all that ice cold beer