Dry leaves have gathered

around your chair on the porch.

I imagine you are inside baking

your German chocolate cake.

An extra batch of icing

cools on your counter.

Your plants are pushing out new leaves.

Nothing goes untended.

I know if I checked the back door

it would still be unlocked.

The stray cats paw

at the kitchen window waiting.

The birdfeeder has run empty

but the squirrels decide to stay.

Your rose bush is overgrown.

I don’t dare prune it.

If I squint hard enough

I still see you at the end of the driveway.

Shuffling in your nightgown and slippers.

Your arm raised waving.

Each time we hugged goodbye

you held a second more…

Almost as if to say

I wish you’d stay a little longer.