every time he leaves
she struggles to understand
why the rooms in her tiny flat
seem to elongate and expand

all sunshine seems
to abandon the place
in protest at the absence
of his kind and gentle face

every time he leaves
she has a cigarette
replays their weekend memories
joy she’ll not forget

his departure leaves a void
that at first throws her off track
but she soon gets over it
secure in the knowledge he’ll be back

copyright © 2014 KPM