between the window and the screen

Year after year she returned

Making sure the rip in the screen was still there

Her doorway to her lair

She would repair and remodel

Spruce it up and then leave it

Spring came around and she would too

She would fuss about

Making the floor comfortable and the sides strong

Making sure it was secure

Between the window and the screen

Summer

The nest stayed empty

Fall

The nest stayed empty

Winter

We didn’t think about it all

Spring arrived again

And she was back

Pulling downy feathers from her breast

Bringing flowers and grass to cushion the eggs

And now, three little birds

And now we get to watch

And see our little friend

Her preparations paying off

To raise her children

In the nest between the window and the screen.

Articles of clothing,

One shoe there,

Another maybe there,

A purse,

A hat,

Empty glass,

Melting ice,

Still smoking cigar,

A fire smoldering in the hearth,

Another smoldering in her heart.

A sudden phone call and he was gone,

The tracks in the snow still warm,

The car miles down the road,

The man returning to his wife.

She was tricked by his words,

His promises,

His charm.

He was unfaithful to her,

And to his wife,

And he’d lied to both.

She felt foolish,

Young,

Betrayed,

Spoiled.

She would learn from this

And would be jaded in future affairs,

She would never have a first again,

And she had wasted it on him.

If only she could go back and

Return to innocence,

And happiness.

She had wanted to be grown up,

To have an adult relationship,

It had been so glamorous,

A cabin in the mountains,

A weekend to themselves,

But one call had ruined it all,

He had confessed his lies,

He hadn’t left his wife after all.

He wasn’t single,

He wasn’t available,

He wasn’t hers.

And so now,

This bitter and hurting young women,

Has learned what many already know,

The pain of being left.

(all rights reserved - SET)

I don't know what to do

I don’t know what to do.
I found you in an alley.
I was only taking a short cut,
You were behind the Chinese restaurant,
Hopefully not just eating from the trash.
I hoped that maybe they fed you.
You looked so sad and scared,
You wouldn’t make eye contact.
I looked around to see if you were really all alone.
I should have called someone for help,
But I didn’t know who to call.
And so I am left with thought and prayers,
And does that really help?
I should have taken you home.
Everyone deserves a home.
But do I have enough to spare?
I don’t know what to do.
There are so very many of you,
And only one that’s you.
I’ll go back and check on you.
I’ll see what I can do.

S. Thornton All Rights Reserved