stuff

after they left the place

I felt, suddenly, lonely

with the stuff in the room

– the décor of my life –

plopped with me:

taking up space,

forlorn and meek,

in the all-at-once ho-hum

of the bellowing silence  –

as my glance

tumbled glumly

from lamp shade to candlestick,

somewhat, expectant

as if the higgledy-piggledy piles

of books and papers heaped

in casual comfort before

the corner gadget mountain

deftly dotted with chotskies,

in need of dusting,

would, somehow,

fill the void that remained,

when they left –

and took the laughter

with them.

photo:  Beautiful Jumble – W. Bourke (This picture was taken in a charming little shop on Vancouver’s Antique Row – a beautiful jumble artfully arranged, I’m sure, as this just doesn’t happen by accident.) 

© 2013 Wendy Bourke