the after life

there are boxes
still in the rooms.
clothes in the closet.
a sweater,
shoes.
the kitchen has the spoon
she stirred with,
the forks
and knives she used.
there's vodka
in the fridge.
frozen peas, tv dinners.
a slice of
cake from her wedding.
her mail
sits on the table.
still coming
through the door.
her cat looks out the window,
waiting.
I paint the rooms.
we move on.
there's a knock by the new
tenants
at the door.