First Prize
Tom Bryan, Kelso, Scotland

Des Res

Like Huck Finn, I'd steal but call it borrow,
white house with wrap-around porch,
whispering oak.
Toto and Dorothy upstairs,
My grandmother singing,
canning her vegetables before pipe organs
of glinting mason jars.
The house crackling with heat in winter,
summer screens pure with breeze.

All buildings hardwood too,
cleansed by sun and rain,
brindled with birds, leather snakes
of grey and red.

Gardens bloated with sweetcorn and sugar peas
olive trees, perfect as bone.
Nearby almonds, oranges, apricots.
One basketball goal near trout stream flowing,
fiddles and harmonies
never tiring to sing at dusk.

No malice, vandalism or Dust Bowl drought,
no tornado, lightning, fire or flood.
No rats or termites.

Yes, I stole this house on no map found,
safely impossible in some parallel universe
not too far from this dream-less one.

Like Huck Finn,
I took it because it belonged to me.