-An addendum to the comprehensive history of violence- 

After a sensationalized tour

I told them: “It’s a very nice house.”

It's their first house, a newly renovated split-level ranch

sporting an expansive basement rumpus-room

complete with enormous screen television,

pingpong table and flashing replica of a 1950s

pinball machine with bathing beauty back-glass

and intriguing sound effects.

My hosts, childhood friends, appear overwhelmed

with owning their first home,–– a home where the dining room

is separated from the "parlor" by an archway.

She said: “Let’s have coffee in the living room.”

There’s a framed reproduction of Francisco Goya’s
plate 15, “The Disasters of War” series

hanging in the bathroom above the low-slung

powder blue toilet tank which I found disconcerting.  

Freetown, Massachusetts