[Julie Steiner]

Draft Two:

Dragonfruit

My sister claims there's someone nasty dwelling
within the empty house, in some dimension
none can see. Her certainty's compelling.
A lack of information breeds invention.

We saw the signs: FOR SALE, then SOLD, then nothing.
The grass gets cut each Thursday by a service.
But past the turf, a cactus patch keeps birthing
dragonfruit. Now, even Dad looks nervous.

Ignoring the rotting bounty, workers come and
go through flies. The lawn’s their only focus.
Without a name, our neighbor can’t be summoned
by keyboard, bell, or candle hocus-pocus.

Adults don’t care who’s peering from those shutters.
(Voldemort? Lobelia Sackville-Baggins?)
“I only hope we don’t get rats,” Dad mutters.
My sister deadpans, right on cue, “Or dragons.”


S1L1: My sister claims a villain must be dwelling
S1L4 was moved to S1L1 and changed from "A lack" to "Lack," then back again.
S2L4: enormous, lurid dragonfruit. We’re nervous.
S3L3: Our nameless, formless neighbor can’t be summoned


Draft One was:


Dragonfruit

My sister claims a nasty neighbor's dwelling
within the empty house, in some dimension
we cannot see. Her stories are compelling.
A lack of information breeds invention.

We saw the signs: FOR SALE, then SOLD, then nothing.
The grass gets cut each Thursday by a service.
But past the turf, a tree has started birthing
enormous, lurid dragonfruit. We’re nervous.

Blind to the fallen bounty, workers come and
go each week. The lawn’s their only focus.
The nameless, faceless owner can’t be summoned
by keyboard, bell, or candle hocus-pocus.

Adults don’t care who’s peering from those shutters—
Voldemort or Vera Sackville-Baggins.
“I only hope we don’t get rats,” Dad mutters.
My sister doesn’t miss a beat: “Or dragons.”