Without Notice

Empty whiskey bottles underneath

the davenport,

Half-empty beer cans in the bookcase,

Butts-up- full -in the ashtray on the coffee table

an empty pack of Camel Lights,

one half full,

Something to look forward to tomorrow night

perhaps, 

worn out socks strewn on the living room floor,

boots one step ahead of another, fallen soldiers behind same dirty pair of jeans

in the hallway

and the cracking sound of the uneven door

peeling from the frame, he lets himself in

tosses the t-shirt onto the bedroom floor

at three a.m.;

go to sleep;

snore, maybe dream,

See her leave every morning, the same

He turns off the air conditioner, conserving energy

while sleeping through the heat of the day

crawl out of bed into the same routine,

a few hours of honest work makes

 any man tired

and ready for solitude,

 she passes through

in various fashions, fleeting through the front door

or swaying into bed, nestling once before goodnight

closing the door behind her, 

while the television repeats the repeats

while the cans grow taller, 12 ounces, 16 ounces

24-hour-ounces later, another bottle under

the sofa, behind the carpet, another quiet night

while the cicada scream in the trees,

crickets sing- chirp-song,

 leaves whistle between the snakey insects hiss,

it’s all done and said,

the routine will remain the same

and she’ll be the one

you missed

without even noticing.

 

Reviews

[LJW]

"without even noticing." (instead of "notice") Yes?

Again, a message, a story, something worth relating, something worth hearing. A beginning, a middle, an end. An end with a message that could start another story worth telling; perhaps a story where she redeems herself; a story werre she locks the door behind him.

The imagery is simple, clear. Matches the message. Love it.