It was a vacant house

full of good potato salad and Luther Vandross

sing alongs, tight roller sets, and easy laughter

cautious windows watching over the neighbors

it was an old house

first built on the block

painted brick and that tree the kids used to climb

R&B in the kitchen, bikes in the driveway

it was a nice house

first Black family on the block

hydrandreas fading pink, porch chairs empty

a mantel crowded with graduation photos

it was a family home

lit red and blue from the ambulance lights

a stuffed mailboxof past due statements and flyers

hushed arguments around the dining room table

It was a vacant house

but never empty