"Blue"

For a brief moment
the house was silent
save the scratching
of the needle
on old vinyl,
words floating in air
from the farthest room
“All I really want
our love to be….”

And I felt his
shoulders slump
when he heard the words,
when the kettle whistled
when the drawer slid open

And water poured into
the empty cup;
sugar bowl scraped
across the counter
the spoon clinked
before it hit liquid.

I felt the sound
of his sigh, deep and long
the last of our love
escaping in a breath
that resumed the house
to its usual noises.

Aleathia Drehmer 2007

Published by Erbacce (for Gloom Cupboard) 2/08