my closet stands bare,
just a few scattered old tanks and dress shirts
that didn’t fit the profile for my suitcase

my hardwood floor is now exposed,
the piles of things
shoved into a green suitcase
and a red duffle bag

I always overpack
I lie awake for hours the nights before
and make mental lists of 
unnecessary things to add

I don’t know when I’ll be coming home
so I even took my favorite collage,
framed in black,
just to make the room where I’ll be staying
more familiar

The boot is packed, with a
french horn, bicycle, boxes of food,
suitcases, random pairs of shoes, pillows
and so much more

we are ready to leave this place,
to see the people we love
and take a break from each other.