ROOM

Room

To breathe,

To move,

To stretch one’s arms

And not touch

Walls,

Membrane strong enough,

Yet permeable,

Allows the world in,

Or keeps the world out.

Off the walls

Pictures fall.

She moves out.

He moves in,

Possessions pass

Each other

At close--but not too close--

Proximity.

Stories in.

Stories out.

Dreams yet unborn

Meet dreams

Deflated, plans

Abandoned.

Too much room

To fill with new life,

Too many square feet

For just a bed, a

Dresser, a

Closet for clothes

And secrets--

Somewhere to hide

Birthday and Christmas gifts

Perhaps music

Will fill all this space,

Squeeze out/

Chase out the remnants

Of loneliness

A previous tenant forgot

To pack in the last boxes

They carried out.

How old

Is this living space,

How full

Of histories

Can one room be?

How many angels...?

Rooms with

Doors, with

Windows with

Curtains--maybe

Lock the door.

Turn off the lights.

Don’t make a sound

And maybe

Come in if

You dare--

If you can--

If you know

The password,

The past word

Paced over the floor,

Pasted on the wall

Behind the plaster.
Knock. knock.

Visitor or

Violator,

Visionaries welcome--all

Others must be announced.

Copyright (c) 2011 by the author