Power

In your absence, I burn
Every light in the house. Darkness
Swells with my old worries.
Things live there, that never see
The light of day. Monsters skulk
In every closet, gather under the bed,
Jump from behind each corner. Lights
On, I can pretend we still gather,
Our ghosts and the lives we made
Launched or failed, bright spirits of our love
In this world. I close the curtains
Against the dark woods beyond
Our living room. Even the closet
Lights are on, bathrooms and garage,
Empty places where we once rested our weary
Hearts against the weight
Of one another. If I could sail above these fears
My own bright soul would need
Nothing but itself. As it is, electricity
Pours through this night, and I wait
For the power to give.

Author: Janice

A creative. Lifelong Marylander. After many odd jobs of adolescence and college, have always worked as a writer and published essays, op-eds, articles, and poetry in national news media and small presses. Collection of poetry, "Saturday at the Gym", about boxing, aging, and motherhood; collection of artwork and poetry, "What Are Mothers For?" On the verge of an empty nest for the first time in 30 years, my question is: What am I for? View all posts by Janice