she made sure his shirts were ironed
and piled neatly in the drawer
the scent of laundry soap still lingered
but the smell of her won’t be here any more
a glance once more around the bedroom
straightening the pillows where they lay
a folded piece of paper in her pocket
reminds her why she rather wouldn’t stay
you weren’t there when you were needed
you didn’t ever really share
you were nonchalant while I was bleeding
now it’s too late to even care
he didn’t know she was on fire
she gave no hint of how she felt
she never spoke of her desire
to shuffle all the cards she had been dealt
she left the letter on the bookcase
the children never come home before four
she had their pictures in her wallet
then she silently shut the door
you weren’t there when you were needed
you didn’t ever really share
you were nonchalant while I was bleeding
now it’s too late to even care
she’s going to find a better life
away up in the sky
a painter that she met said
he’s gonna fly her way up high
he’ll take her away from here
somehow they will get by
the neighbors said her leaving was surprising
no one guessed that this was how she’d end
but she saw a ray of light on the horizon
and she went before the darkness could descend
Marybeth D’Amico, © 2005
