The time between,

after all is ready

folded, stowed and packed,

but before the final act

last minute chores suddenly significant

rinsing the glass before the grapefruit juice is done

one last sweep

claiming lingering essentials

The sand we tracked in is all swept away

passion’s moments cold and dim

laughter stilled

straighten, align, erase all trace

all is tense and waiting to be sprung

counting the ticks as

last moments slip by

until I close the door and stride away

only memories and a lucky stone in my jacket pocket

a chapter finished

a season done

just another holiday bagged and tagged

soon the house will be dark and silent

and the words unsaid

will have drifted into the darker corners

along with stray hairs

and the button off my shirt