"Yes, dear"
As
we moved through the house
we
passed and open bedroom door.
There
were many characters moving about this place
but
these three caught my eye.
They
lay together across the bed
in
middle of the light of day.
But
it may have been night, hard to tell
there
was no telling time in this place.
He
was a dark shock of wavy hair
face
down on the pillow.
She
in a mask, to keep out the light
golden
hair and manicured toes.
Between
them a child lay fast asleep
like
a wall dividing them.
She
cried, “this light will not let me sleep”
he
mumbled, “yes dear, I know”.
I
encountered them often during my stay
always
together as three.
Moving
about the daily routine
the
function and conformity.
You
could see her staring wistfully
across
the street from the front yard.
As
he performed some mechanical task
she
painted pictures in her mind.
The
child always oblivious, just happy
that
they were all there.
And
maybe that was the reason
like
being caught in a snare.
In
the kitchen I heard them again
she,
speaking in hushed tones.
“This
ache in me is gnawing
chewing
away at my bones.”
I
was unsure that the words
were
even loud enough to hear.
As
if on cue, he answered her though,
in
that monotone voice, “yes, dear”.
She
met me eye to eye
more
than once throughout my stay.
In
this strange little house with too many rooms
and
so many stories to tell.
I
couldn’t understand why they were here
this
oddly made family of three.
Her
eyes kept pleading to tell me
was
she simply waiting for me?
Waiting
for me to ask
waiting
for me to hear?
Or
did she just need someone to listen
without
the reply, “yes, dear”.
