Departure
it’s late
I hear
footsteps
not pitter-patter
the light
turns on
in the hall
and the door closes
masking the light
and I hear
the click of the lock
and the water
starts hammering out
‘til it gets hot
then the sound of rain
falling
and I lie there
wondering how
I’m gonna make it
through
I can imagine
the silence
the endless silence
as the years stretch forth
been looking at places
with bathrooms
that aren’t down the hall
but across town
it could be worse
she could go
out-of-state
like Boston
or New York
and she still might
but lately
she’s been talking
‘bout sticking around
and maybe going to college
here
so long as
she can move out
and just like that
it goes from pitter-patter
to the rush of steps
out the door
I don’t think she understands
quite
how could she
at 17
she says she knows exactly
what kind of kitchen
she wants
and what kind of bathroom
she wants
I look at the pictures
she shows me
and nod my head
agreeing how nice …
but I lie
in bed
late at night
waiting for the light
to come on
in the hall
and the sound of water
falling
like rain
TL