Hollow Plans

PART THREE

i met grief when i was

twenty--two

through a mutual friend

i thought the pain might

extend to his

doorstep but no further

and was surprised when

every night

grief followed me home

“you don’t belong to me”

i said

and grief said nothing

the next night there were

familiar footsteps

but when i turned to face

grief

i saw that it was

just love

in a heavy coat

“you can leave that at the

door” i said

and was just as surprised

when i invited love

inside

—-Shannon Lee Barry