Up at Muddy River Poetry Review. One of my favorites for this year.

Allied Van Lines

was parked by

your old place today.

Day-labor gleaned

from the local Goodwill

moved packing crates

and furniture in

Yes, I pass by still—

hoping for…

I am no closer to knowing

where you’ve gone—

but then, that last night

I didn’t know

that we were saying

our goodbyes.

Tonight I watch

the distant flash

of heat lightning

create an abstract show—

“like sky painting,”

I can hear you say

And god, we need

the rain.

But that storm

will offer no relief.

It is somewhere else—

somewhere far from here.