RED CURTAINS

Red Curtains

Leaving home, I looked back one more time

At the little yard that needed to be raked

The old car that cried out for new tires

The flower garden that refused to grow a rose

And my heart jumped into my throat.

Dewey, the dog, barked once

And then sat there staring at me

With big, moist eyes as if he knew

He'd never see me again.

It was dawn and the dew was cold

On my bare feet

For I had crept out silently

Carrying my shoes and my suitcase.

"Goodbye, Mama." I said under my breath

"Goodbye, Daddy." "Goodbye, house."

For you were waiting down the highway

And when they'd awake, I'd be long gone.

Then a bluebird on the rooftop

Started singing and it made me cry

Starkly contrasted against Mama's red curtains

In that window frame of white.

How that image has stayed with me

All these years down all these roads

Dewey's eyes and the bluebird's song

And those red, red curtains

Faded now, I'm sure, to pink.

©Voo

July 28/07