empty houses

Submitted by Jo

empty houses

I drove by the rambling blue house

on Oxford Road today,

quietly wondering if the Machells still lived there.

Mr. and Mrs. Machell, parents of my middle school friend,

living all alone in a house that was too big even

when they’d had a child.

I drove by the tiny cavern of our once home

on Murrow Court,

and I wondered who lives there now.

I always drive by it slowly,

wondering just how long I can stare without 

someone inside noticing.

I was, of course,

on my way to see you.

I was distracted by thinking of you 

holding me in your arms 

but not really holding me,

In the same way you would 

hold someone’s drink so they could

fidget with the buttons 

on their coat.

Holding the glass

but not really feeling the glass,

not possessing the glass 

(Or even wanting to). 

Just a moment of your thumb 

wrapped delicately

around the glass’s side,

The way you place your hands on my hips

but I know that you do not

Really 

Feel them.  

The way you said that it was good to see me,

But you do not really see me.