Collected Works in Contemporary Prose and Art

Paper houses

By

Jacqueline S. McCauley

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They didn’t have much,
But her mother measured and twisted and pressed,
Crafted the edges into something like a home,
So that every time they moved, it became easier and easier
To unfold the carefully creased seams
And bend them back together,
To quickly reassemble their lives into something
That appeared from the outside, whole,
Even as it became more difficult to keep in place,
Because the corners became raggedy,
The sides crumpled,
The immaculate origami unraveling with overuse,
Which is the problem with paper houses.
Eventually, they become unrecognizable and frayed,
And then, once more, you’re left with nothing much at all.

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  • Jacqueline grew up in South Africa and Australia before moving to New York where she teaches English and drama. She has a background in youth and children’s theater.

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    Paper houses