Gone

Gone 

I felt calm when you left

  but afraid you'd never return,

and a part of me accepted it.

The door still bears the scars of angry fists-

    splinters hang like broken teeth

       a gaping mouth

silent and screaming

The tremor subsided hours after you slammed the door,

as I watched your truck

spit up gravel as you

                               broke away.

(This is a piece I found in an old journal- circa 2004. I seem to remember thinking of my brother Jay leaving home for the final time after he and my mom had a fight as I wrote this piece. I can see that I have grown as a writer since this one- but I left it as is- and resisted the urge to edit. I like the imagery of the splinters hanging like broken teeth but rest is just so so to me...)

Comments/Critique welcome!