Moving Day

Two years ago they unpacked,

carefully putting away

their life onto freshly painted shelves.

Decorating choices,

their biggest worry.

A lot, apparently,

can happen in that amount of time.

Glassware and books.

plates, crates,

photographs of better days.

There’s more this time.

Stuff multiplied inside

drawers and cabinets

along with hurt.

More to divide now, how

even, how amicable

the split.

Two sets of boxes,

packed side by side into

one U-Haul, all

its contents to fill

two apartments

instead of one home.

A son, one

prized possession

both will keep.






(c) Ellen Gillette, 2012