was there love there?

they empty

the old house.

there goes the coffee table,

the books

and lamps,

the blue couch.

someone has rolled

up the rug

and set it in the yard.

pictures

are taken down. leaves

traces

of dust and faded paint

behind.

pots and pans,

dishes.

everything old,

rusted, worn, bent.

the people are gone.

wheeled out

in chairs

or gurneys, taken somewhere

where strangers

now will feed them

with small spoons

and straws.

the people are gone.

was there love there?

not that i remember.