Light's On

You left the light on last night.
Forgetting to turn it off
Before you walked out the door
Quietly
So as not to disturb me.
I pretended to be asleep
Pretended I didn’t hear your
Deadened
Footfalls.
Pretended that
The rods and cones of my eyes
Didn’t jump in startlement
At the sudden influx of
Light.

You forgot to turn the light off.
But you walked quietly –
So as not to disturb me.
Walking quietly
But the light’s on.
And you’re gone.
And I’m not to be
Disturbed.

Feb. 13, 2005