Bare

Revised:

The museum is silent
except for the sound
of exhibits not breathing,
of a mummy not unwrapping itself,
of dinosaurs’ bones not creaking,
of birds not flapping their wings,
of bugs not crawling
and of emptiness not hissing at you.

Our house is bare
except for the collection
of things untouched,
of lights not turned on,
of doors not unlocked,
of sofa not sat on,
of cupboards not opened
and of thoughts not thrown away.

First draft:

The museum is silent
except for the sound
of exhibits not breathing,
of a mummy not unwrapping itself,
of dinosaurs’ bones not creaking,
of birds not flapping their wings,
of bugs not crawling
and of emptiness not hissing at you.

Our house is bare
except for the collection
of things untouched,
of lights not turned on,
of doors not unlocked,
of sofa not sat on,
of cupboards not opened
and of mind not emptied of thoughts.