We did not say goodbye

The answering machine
whined softly as I left a message
hanging in your lounge room

Just seeing how you are,
when your feeling up to it,
give me a ring

But you didn’t feel up to it did you?

As your body
shut up shop
putting thick texta signs in all
the windows
closing down

God pressed his burning lips
against the soft curve of your ear
and spoke the words

Board up the doorways
empty the shelves
disconnect the phones
you are coming home

Turn the open sign inwards
peel the stickers away
let dust gather on the stools
and counters
let magazines
and letters clutter
just inside the entrance
shoved beneath the door

And he took you
before I could say anything

Today
is a black rainbow
embracing embered skies

No pot of gold awaits

only the place you stood

inside me

bereft