I left my tears where they’d <br />Fallen on the kitchen table <br />Where I’d sat writing to you. <br /> <br />I wanted to see how long it would <br />Take for them to evaporate. <br />I knew they would, <br /> <br />And hoped that it might be an <br />Indicator for the anguish <br />I was harboring. <br /> <br />Each time I passed the table, <br />I would glance <br />At the bulging discs, <br /> <br />Luminescent surface tension. <br /> <br />Still there. <br /> <br />I go check my e-mail, <br />Answer some, <br />Return… <br /> <br />They’re there. <br /> <br />Later I go <br />To the bathroom <br />For aspirin… <br /> <br />There. <br /> <br />I watch them throughout <br />Dinner, <br />Through each bite… <br /> <br />Right there. <br /> <br />Passing on the way <br />To unload <br />The dishwasher… <br /> <br />Still there. <br /> <br />Coming back from <br />The mailbox that <br />I’d forgotten this morning. <br /> <br />Still <br />There. <br />After reading, or trying to, <br />I take the trash out… <br /> <br />There they are. <br /> <br />Watch a movie – <br />A whole movie – <br />They must be gone… <br /> <br />Nope. <br />Still there. <br /> <br />As I turn out the lights <br />To go to my lonely bed, <br />I peek once more… <br /> <br />They’re there. <br /> <br />-But… <br /> <br />Like expected <br />Magic – <br />This morning… <br /> <br />They are gone. <br /> <br />Well, those <br />Shimmering, plump <br />Drops are gone. <br /> <br />Left in their places <br />Are perfect <br />Residual circles, <br /> <br />Flat, secret ghosts <br /> <br />Compressed pain.<br /><br />Lee Ann Schaffer<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-study-of-tears/
