Things Played Out Much Differently in Earlier Versions of How We’d End Up
There would have been toes
lightly gripping the edges of the stairs.
We never locked the doors at night.
We never felt threatened by without.
We imagined music playing: sultry R&B.
Never wanted to close the windows
or even wear a pair of shoes.
We know a load of damp laundry sat
waiting for a roll in the dryer.
The cat roamed where once forbidden.
The dog ate all the trash.
The fish floated belly up.
A quiet storm raged and
when we showed up
there was nothing silent or slowed.
All was flux.
All was how we left it.
Au naturel.