You walk away
With a crushing finality
Ramrod iron spine
Heels strident clacks
Carom across the concrete
Then at the door
The subtlest glance back
Betrays the display
That is your anger
Now I know
The only moment
More remarkable
Than this departure
Will be your return
I know also
The next time
There will be
No backward glance
But
God
Will I be grateful
For one last chance
I’m gone
And she stayed behind
Or I left her
I’m not sure
Which narrative
I like the least
I carry her still
A memory under glass
Shrouded and unrepentant
A story ended
Without end
And yet untold
But for the voice
In my heart
That won’t let her go
Don’t let the bastards get you down
She whispered
Drew another breath
Don’t let the bastards get you down
She said
Drew another breath
Don’t let this bastard get you down
She growled
Then held what remained of her breath
Until she could hold it no longer
Then simply let the breath go
And with it went all the bastards
Even the one who stood before her
Who knew her well enough
That there was no coming back
Once the door closed behind him
She listened for the squeaky hinge
The groaning spring
As the door slammed shut
With satisfying finality
Boots clattered across the porch
Down the steps
Scattering gravel in the drive
A creaky metal door opened
Then screeched shut
Two roars of an engine
The second sprayed gravel
Onto the porch
While the roar drew away
Into the insurmountable distance
Just as he had over the last month
Soon enough the birdsong dispelled her reverie
And when she opened her eyes
The world already seemed brighter
With nary a bastard in sight
And I wonder at you and I
With all that space
We put between us
And still
We just can’t
Get along
The world seems
No smaller, no larger
As it crashes down
I think of you
The final throes of our daylight
Hoping you’ll return
From the long, dark night
With the promise
Of a new sun
Rising
Walking past
Eyes turned away
She would never sit there again
Not without him
Pix to Words 