A two-story house

with a backyard,

a man and woman,

two children,

a fat paycheck

to meet their

growing demands;

electronics and loneliness

go hand in hand.

Father watching T.V.

on the living room sofa,

mother reading an

electronic book on

how to lose ten pounds

in two weeks,

brother playing video games

in his room,

sister talking to strangers

behind a computer screen.

And they wonder

what family is

because no one

has the answer.

Family in church

never says a word

behind closed doors,

they only go because

what would everyone say

if they didn’t?

Who knows if that bible

has ever been touched

other than when it is

used as a coaster

for diet sodas and coffee

and one-too-many

alcoholic drinks

in the dead of night.

A good Christian family

torn apart bone by bone

by secrets from

the grave,

the past,

secrets from places

hidden on the map

to happiness.

A big gaping hole

in the exposed earth

which the families

fall into

one at a time

until they’re buried alive

under sermons

and unspoken words.