He Left

We stopped in front of the house

with gifts for the girls

he left.

The door hung in space above

shattered stairs cascading

down the hillside.

In another story

our words tangled in the phone

lines and he left.

The song played backwards

worlds fell away

dreams evaporated.

We visited his wife

whose friends had seen him

in dreams, so real

one put his hand out and

through him.

He told this friend

it’s like this:

you pour water

in a kettle

put it on the burner

to boil, steam comes

out and when you pour

the water is cold.

jam