Sunday, 31 October 2021

A Tale from an Empty House

Did I tell you

how much I didn’t wish to let you go

this morning —

when you woke up, slipped into trousers,

wore an un-ironed cotton shirt,

a sweater, woollen cap,

put on lip balm,

opened the door

to step away

and waved me goodbye?


I thought I would lose you,

wouldn’t see you again.

But you will be back

in the evening as yesterday.

I will be happy again, as yesterday.

The trifle house

will be intact.


It’s clear and I see now:

my mother was not a feeble woman —

But father left her to go to work every day.

The empty house haunted her.

Her potted plants — what a sham — no replacement for a lover —

Yet, nothing besides their silent chatter could keep

that anxious woman calm.


Have I told you, perhaps I haven’t —

I don’t dislike you for this new misery, 

normalcy, this is. 

I adore you in more ways

than I thought possible.


For it’s a tale of an ordinary day, 

while we turn

into two bland, bouncing boats;

inflicting sadness

upon each other with words

untold, to extract longevity.

And we brace each other

for unrequited love.

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