Two Houses from In Relation by Cassia Hardy

On our moving day
did you feel a little sick,
as if the whole place
tossed us around
while we were sleeping?

We were this close
to living comfortable,
resting easy.

A knock on the door
from our visiting landlord,
up for sale the very next week.

Washed the walls,
took all we could carry.
Watched the old place
sit the winter, empty.

been a minute since we checked in,
I heard you’re still living with your ex?

Working ten hour days,
trying to stay out of each other’s way
while you save your deposit.

You lived so long
with your heels hanging off the edge,
your fractured nest
for now to stay there
for as long as you can,
or as long as you can stand.

Soon you’ll find a room
closer to your other job.
Maybe save for school
or try to pay it down.

Or you could join the club
with your very own character home,
subjugating others
for your own comfort and control.

Two houses,
assets bought and sold
between west end developers
over the telephone.

Rumours rack the neighbourhood,
brace for what comes next
the summer comes
the permits clear
the right hand shakes the left.

Rented houses,
spacious corner lots
worth a fucking fraction of
the stolen land they’re on.

• Alternative
• Treaty 6
• amiskwaciy
• indie rock
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• songwriter
• Edmonton