Footsteps

The tea half drunk,

The tags ripped off,

The room now empty,

Save me and my memroy.

I shiver despite the heater,

My body confused.

Calm now,

Angry now,

Fearing the future now.

The night will be sleepless,

My mood never fixed.

Take the pictures down quick.

Remove the words you wrote,

Not so long ago.

"I miss you already."

Now new words:

"Goodbye, Charlie."

Oh, why must you use my name?

Why must you say it with those red eyes?

Why must you hold me so long?

And now I hear footsteps on the porch,

And I hope.

I listen for the door,

Anticipate the key I gave you.

I imagine an embrace, 

Imagine words of regret,

Barely heard through sobs.

The footsteps are still now,

I hear the keys shake.

For three moments I wait,

Before the neighbor's door opens,

And the footsteps disappear.

Reviews

[Tom]

A permanent parting is never easy !

Nice poem !

[Jack...]

Very sad indeed, but beautifully penned. This one reaches in and grabs the heart. Very cool my friend.

[Pndrgn99]

I can feel it, my memories of similar feelings is evoked.
Nice.

Alex

[Dhaye]

Very moving. That expectation...the longing...the waiting. Hoping that one moment she/he would be there in front of the door. Then at the end, to be frustrated only.

Nice word choice. Beautiful!

[Akashi]

Very beautiful and creative. Excellently written.

[Angel]

I feel this person's emotions...his sadness, his regret...his eager anticipation as he hears the approaching footsteps...his disappointment as they fade into the neighbor's house.
This is a beautiful piece.

[Sheila Kline]

Words of "goodbye" are often among the most difficult for one to hear and though we may even realize it is at hand, we still feel the pain of the departure. You have expressed these emotions with clarity. One is left behind while the other moves on!!