without you, mlb

without you

there is less trash to take to the bin

less laundry

less Amy Goodman in the morning pushing the blade 

and no Reggae 
at all- ever

without you

I don't find your truck or your trailer  

parking me out of the driveway

no one drinks the last beer with half-lit apologies

sugar does not collect like dust on the countertops

no wars fought over how the dishwasher is to be loaded

no battles over who should feed the cats 

and who should gather eggs

no half cooked dinners

no apologies for running late - always late

without you

the house is almost kept perfectly clean without effort

the porch free of forgotten socks

the bed made

the towels folded

the coffee just so

but without you

the nights are plain & overcooked like cafeteria food

the chickens are stormy
the cats at war

and the squirrels are mounting a return

without you

I lock the doors- all of them

I ignore the work of building a fire

I talk to myself... in public
I turn on and off lights and tv's but the house always looks asleep

and I walk in the same day 
over and over... and over again

without you.