Andrew

The church bell tolled four o'clock
And already Andrew had been out
On the porch overlooking Lake Washington
For hous and hours
Sitting listening hearing
Pouring his heart out to himself without really noticing
The number of hours nor the number of explanations
Trying to peel away the doubts the regrets
Of what had happened just because it happened
And not because of his own weakness
And not because of their contrasts and similarities
Which helped them remain together at times
And at other times drove them irrevocably apart

Until of course that day three months ago
When forever this dynamic would become frozen in time
Drawn by circumstance
A great opportunity a job a career
But living literally thousands of miles away
Drawn back to the town of their natural origin
Drawn back but not to be with him
Drawn back but to be away from him
And leaving him in a limbo space and time
Where he couldn't go home if he were to want to
And yet he knew eventually he could also not stay here
Its memories of their hopes together now dashed
Forever haunting the very look of the place

He was left on quiet Sunday afternoons like this one
When the church bells toll four o'clock
Already Andrew had been out
On the porch overlooking Lake Washington
For hours and hours
Sitting listening hearing
Pouring his heart our to himself without really noticing
The number of hours nor the number of explanations
Trying to peel away the doubts the regrets
Of what had happened just because it had happened


For Sketches
Denis J. Kelly
April 4, 2012