to redefine freedom - poem, PG

[tigriswolf]

Title: to redefine freedom
Rating: PG
Written: September 21, 2007

 

I went to town yesterday.

It stormed on the way, thunder and lightning;

the road washed out behind me.

I looked for you there.

 

But I could not find you.

It was a cold day and I could not find you.

 

Mama told me you were no good.

From the beginning, she told me it would

hurt when you grew bored, that

I would cry when you left.

 

I followed you to town—

that was the direction you went.

But you weren’t there.

I asked the innkeeper and the baker,

but no one had seen you

No one had seen you in a fortnight.

But I watched you walk to town.

 

I trudged through the mudflood

on the way home to an empty cottage.

The dogs greeted me and the cat purred—

I fed them and went to lie down.

You weren’t there.

I looked for you and you weren’t there.

It was such a cold night.

 

And today I woke alone,

afraid to never see you again, never be held by you again.

I shattered a plate when I served myself breakfast.

Did you go to town?

Mama told me you were no good,

that you’d leave me and not look back.

I told her you loved me,

that you wouldn’t be like Daddy—

But you’re gone now.

You’re gone now and no one’s seen you.

 

I clean the cottage and hold the cat,

play with the dogs for hours.

I live like you’ll come home by sundown.

But dusk comes

and with the moonrise, I’m still alone.

 

I went to town two days ago, a storm on my heels.

I looked for you and you weren’t there.

The dogs don’t seem to notice one of their people gone,

but the cat—my sweet, soft kitten—hasn’t stopped purring.

Mama told me you were no good.

I think I’ll go visit her today.