347 Poem by RIC BASTASA

when i left her i left no note
she was in that state of suspension what to really believe
there were words on the table but they were vague
she had kiss marks but they were confused
and she had reasons to be sad at first
then she was lost and then she said she was angry
to the laziness of time to its witholding of what could have been
easily said and should have been
well said and well meant

life was not easy and life need not be clear
to be blunt and be understood with so much pain
it is better hanging
like a leaf waiting for the gracious wind to pluck it off
and fall without so much knowing as though it was merely riding
on its puff and huff and then dry, and rot and be gone

we shall meet again when our minds are calm and strong
when our hearts are toughened by extant sorrows
when our faces have thickened when our smiles are smoothed
i have already prepared my self with what words to say
for 25 years or more that i too have suffered
and what she might say i have rehearsed my ears what to hear
and be not guilty and be not pained anymore

life is easier now i have enough space for guilt
a stronger heart to carry them all and then leave
and move on with my life as though nothing really happened