For KAJ

FAREWELL

for kimberly ann johnson

Letters fall to the ground, their words rattle back and forth

in envelopes,

images in them do not exist anymore, they dance away

to other places, other doors, other hearts,

letters meant for me fell apart in your hands

looking up at me

‘They didn’t matter’ you said ‘stupid little things’

looking away

then a quiet kitchen

while rain fell among trees and streets,

then there was just the sound of the kettle

announcing a cup of coffee,

I let my pen sigh away years that wrote

that brittle and fragile four letter word

that your lips simply forgot

replacing it with goodbye.