the absence of others

i notice

that the man next door has been

gone

for several weeks.

his car no longer 

in the space where it

once was.

the grass in the yard

is tall.

weeds are everywhere.

but

the woman,

his wife,

seems jubilant.

she's wearing new dresses

and tights.

heels

and lipstick.

her eyes are bright.

she even smiled

at me

the other day

for the first time

in years.