The Old Furnishings

all these things are familiar to you
you’ve described them in your notebooks
and mentioned them in conversation
now they stand here in this room
without moving
when you push open the door
they turn to face you
maintaining their silence
like timber only recently felled
and still smelling of their fresh wounds
back in days gone by
they kept you company, stayed true to you
down to the cups and saucers
this is the room that you are about to leave
and the events that occurred here
will remain in this place
others will move in and share a common space
and new things will happen
but before you leave
you suddenly get the feeling that they’re somehow part of you
a part that will soon be snatched away
by somebody else.

THE OLD FURNISHINGS