In this quiet house

The radio plays all day

Three dogs defend at the windows

Strangers are not welcome here,

There is mourning inside.

In this quiet house

Days silently float by

One at a time and then in sevens

Landing on the eighth,

The day you disappeared.

In this quiet house

Self-help books crowd the bed

Talking to you, with pen and paper.

Missing your touch,

Imagining you, in heaven.

In this quiet house

The otters still visit

Dipping and diving, playfully together.

They don’t know,

They’ve got living to do.

In this quiet house

Doing whatever I desire

Except spend time with you.

You’ve left me here,

In this quiet house.