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Monday, August 17, 2020

THE PROBLEM OF ERASING THE WIRING IN THIS HOUSE

by Frederick Charles Melancon


Artwork source: Vox


We rip out the old lines.
Fragments of bright copper

shine on concrete still trapped
in white and black casing.

New yellow cords replace
white insulated ones.

Asked the electrician does
this make any difference.

Reports to everyone
it’s safer, but confides

running through each cable
is the same old power.


Frederick Charles Melancon lives in Mississippi with his wife and daughter.  Even as an untrained electrician, he knows to turn the power off before touching the power lines.