Scientific Method

Scientific Method

In the floor
in the study
in the house
in California,

when we used
to live there,
a strange
phenomenon:

a tiny mound
of dirt, or sand,
or soot, thumb-
print sized,

dark particles,
like coffee
grounds. I’d
sweep them up

and make this
sound, Hmm,
how did they
spill from the

ceiling each
day, what was
this cairn in
memory of.

What was the
message. Then
I waited three
days to sweep,

and when I did,
I made this sound,
Ah. A pinprick
in the floorboard,

termites under
the floor, chewing
steadily, calmly.
The house wasn’t

going anywhere.
When we told
the landlords in
California, they

said, Oh yeah,
termites, bet we
have those, no
concern or fear.

The house was
not falling down
yet, is still not
falling down yet.