Claudia Schiebek
Terms
“I’m only staying some weeks,
Three months at most. No point in doing up
The room, hanging pictures, curtains.
No need to unpack all my bags.”
You said nothing. Accepted
Bare windows, open views.
Left the paint to peel,
The door ajar. Leaning on its jamb,
You watched me passing through.
“I’ve made no promises,
Can leave tomorrow”, I mentioned
Each night as we undressed.
Most of my clothes now hugged your suits
Inside the wardrobe atop of which
Rested lightly my case.
Without a word, you observed me stitch drapes
(Through the door that was still kept ajar),
Never flinched when I missed the nail,
Hammered the newly papered wall,
But when you saw me push cyclamen seeds
Into a pot on the sill, watched me fill
The watering can (still mumbling “I’m free to move on”),
You gently closed the door. - You knew you’d won.
Page(s) 59
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