Jigsaw
It takes a little while
to remember exactly
where and how you fit.
The hole you left behind has closed
just a bit–
as the others adapt to your absence.
(If you hadn’t come back
your hole would close entirely
at some point)
but you squeeze back in
and stretch it out
until you slot into place.
(You will always return)
A little time goes by,
then it feels like you never left,
then it’s time to leave again.
The hole you leave behind
starts to close
until you return
to delay the inevitable
a little longer.
2 thoughts on "Jigsaw"
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This is how I feel when I go back home to visit my parents. Thank you for putting it into words so eloquently.
Oh, this is beautiful! We never like to think about how the gaps we leave close in our absence; you portray this subject perfectly as a jigsaw puzzle. I do appreciate the hope with which you imbue this poem, assuring us that we can “squeeze back in” until everything is as it was. Very well done!