the leaving

you see your father
with a glass
of whiskey in his hand.
a cigarette
burning blue in a glass
ashtray.
he's leaving.
there's a suitcase
in the hall.
a suit on a hanger,
a pair of
shoes which he'll
carry out to the car.
he won't be back
this time.
you know that, even
as a child
you can see that he
has other plans.
you'll remember
this moment for the
rest of your life,
and one day,
in fact today you
will write it down.