The Atomic Age

The house is breathing:
Working out its kinks
From the atomic age
And the introduction
Of microwaves.
The house aches aloud
Like a disrespected elder-
Half complaining
About the kids these days
And half about the pain
In their joints.
The house lives
Aside from me,
Aside from the lights
I leave burning
When I'm not there.
The house is cold
In the corners
Where the sun,
Through the windows,
Cannot reach.
She shivers.
If there were such things
As ghosts
They would live here
Where I saw woman
Dead on the staircase:
A bloodless death-
A frightening death-
That takes you from the inside
With no outward knowledge
Of how it happened
When I happened upon her
Cold and crumpled
On the stairs.
I got this place cheap
Because of what happened-
Because people believe
In such things as ghosts, now
Because bombs aren't enough
Anymore.