swimming in rats and debt
preyed upon for finance's flesh
found unworthy of mercy modification
manipulated with no fear of litigation

"they are coming at 6 am.
turn over your keys and vacate.
your home is now a house
and a house is only an asset,
and assets must be sold-
as was yours to the highest bidder."

treading a flood of shame and guilt
their breath remains synchronized.
parental focus remains united.
Home's Don't make families,
Families make homes.
As this family always has and always will.

warnings unheeded pleas un - pleaded
the daze of this day approaches in blur
is it all really over?
"is this the last time that I.... in our house?"
no time for sentimentality....
they'll be here at 6 am.

tomorrow's dawn will be
the first light of a new life
for a family so hastily removed from their old.
But the twilight hours -
amid the rustling of exhausted children
shuffling boxes will be
the realm for resolved faces
of a family moving on.