She whispered gingerly

In the office on a Friday, to her boss

“I’m leaving”

What an employer’s loss

She told him she was leaving – but with papers

He came home to see them on the table

Thought he would find olives, cheese, and capers

But instead there was a straight black line on the bottom of page 3

He thought all the talk had been fable

But this was a catastrophe

At graduation they all told their parents they were leaving

The teachers too

What would be left after 18 years – who knew?

Then those kids all left college

They all turned like the calendar pages

Like fall foliage

Even the elderly woman on her death bed

Looked right at her husband of 65 years and said,

“I’m leaving, sweetie”

He looked at her and thought but couldn’t say, “What about me?”

I’ve seen some leave without saying anything

I just see their back

Or the fact that they don’t ever come back

Are you leaving?

Am I leaving?

Face it: There’s something we’re all believing

Like leaves that leave

We’re withering

Green to yellow to brown

Till we all fold down

And there’s nowhere to else to leave

Maybe we’re all just looking for that place

No more restlessness, no one left empty, no reason to leave

But evergreens, capers, eternal life

And at last, peace