What You Left Behind

You didn’t text or call
I find instead a short illegible list -
Reminders for you? Me? Someone else?
I peer at the writing whose form I recognize
but can’t piece together

I flip through the notebook knowing
I’m looking at what you don’t want to be seen
Commit the open page to the pencil cup
of my memory so I can return it the way
you left it when – if - you come back

I smooth the crumpled sheets
nervous you will appear and catch me
searching for you
searching for what I haven’t found
when you are here

Share this
Continue Reading
About the Author

Poetry is my caffeine. My many roles in life (so far) have included teacher, school counselor, bookmobile driver, furniture factory worker, volunteer coordinator, daughter, aunt, wife, mother, reader and writer. My book Buried in the Suburbs was published in 2018 by Woodley Press (2019 Kansas Notable Book Award. My chapbook Domesticated: Poetry from Around the House was published in 2015 (Finishing Line Press). For a complete list of publications see jamielynnheller.blogspot.com

Jamie Lynn Heller
Author Websites
Follow On
More Posts by this author…