A Blood Red Barn

Pa built a blood red
barn far out in the north woods
away from the house

and worked on it every night
for two and a half summers.

We watched him build up the frame,
and fill it in with cheap wood.

He did it alone,
never once asking for help
from any of us.

While he worked his eyes were mean;
we didn't ask what it was

but watched it take shape
and figured it was a barn.

When he painted it,
we knew not to go out there.

That's where he'd do the killings.