If and When
     with apologies to Bob Wagner

After he left, I lay perfectly
still, staring at the perfect ceiling.

The sun slipped in God's pocket.
As if doing an investigation,
I moved through my room,
careful to leave everything
exactly as he had seen it.

I found the lamp and clicked it on, 
watched light escape the bulb and smooth
over everything and each shadow 
was ashamed.

One thought ruined it all
*when will he be back
and what if he doesn't -- *

Time heals nothing.  It's a thief
that steals memories and returns them
when you most need to forget.




copyright 1994 kathy jo kramer