Kathy Mak
To Moulton
there was a cobalt blue rubbermaid box
sitting by the cloakroom walls
a clipart label plastered on the exterior
library
a creamy haven of warmth
the polished ancient rocking chair
creaks back and forth the grainy carpet
as you read a rich maple syrup ring
you introduce to us your pet –
a ceramic bookworm or caterpillar
nestled within the ledge of the miniature chart stand
asleep
every friday afternoon school ended at twelve
I found my way to home our home
the soft hymn of fluorescent lights reflect
as you paused over each rigid spine
fingers poised picking out treasures
for me to delve into
wherever you were you sent me a postcard
emails updating me on your latest hallmark
geocaching around the globe
leaving your mark embracing
life
how do you say good bye
when they are no longer
here
and you are still
here
when you reached
o
u
t
nine months later
you find out
all this time you could have
guessed
predicted
assumed
forecasted
but you could not have
known
and now you are looking back
scrolling through email after email
sitting by the cloakroom walls
a clipart label plastered on the exterior
library
a creamy haven of warmth
the polished ancient rocking chair
creaks back and forth the grainy carpet
as you read a rich maple syrup ring
you introduce to us your pet –
a ceramic bookworm or caterpillar
nestled within the ledge of the miniature chart stand
asleep
every friday afternoon school ended at twelve
I found my way to home our home
the soft hymn of fluorescent lights reflect
as you paused over each rigid spine
fingers poised picking out treasures
for me to delve into
wherever you were you sent me a postcard
emails updating me on your latest hallmark
geocaching around the globe
leaving your mark embracing
life
how do you say good bye
when they are no longer
here
and you are still
here
when you reached
o
u
t
nine months later
you find out
all this time you could have
guessed
predicted
assumed
forecasted
but you could not have
known
and now you are looking back
scrolling through email after email
Biography
Kathy Mak is an emerging writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her poetry and creative nonfiction have appeared/are forthcoming in The /tƐmz/Review, Marías at Sampaguitas, and Kissing Dynamite. She writes to reflect on her experiences, and to explore the unbounded. Visit her website: http://kathymak.weebly.com/
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