Bitter Love Poem

Had a sudden flashback today.

Opening the wardrobe which now

houses my winter clothes,

for a moment I saw the ghosts 

of all your garments.

The black leather jacket

with the collar just starting to go;

the maroon blazer you bought

when our marriage was new;

the yellow raincoat from Edinburgh

that matched mine, which I still have; 

the fawn shorts; the grey trousers;

all your shirts and T-shirts.

I didn't keep them.

Some people need a shrine,

but not me. I didn't want

to look at them and cry.

And for all this time I didn't.

(A year and a half and a bit.)

Today, for no visible reason,

I saw them anyway,

hanging there as usual —

only it's not usual any more —

and sure enough I howled,

leaning my forehead 

on the quickly-closed door

and wailing, all alone.

April Poem A Day Challenge 2014, day 15: Two for Tuesday 

— love poem and anti-love poem. This does duty as both.