A Cage Is Not A Good Site To See At The Balcony. Poem by RIC BASTASA

nena say she wants to leave.
takes her two nights to say the
word that she is finally leaving.
and without any question as
to where she is going you give
her money and the permission.
the house will be empty again.
back to its closing when you
leave it. You hold the key to
its emptiness and fullness.
nena has been crying on the bus.
she is far away now. she remembers
you and your kindness. she does not
want to forget. but she does not
want to return either. she has not
place yet. but she is going somewhere
to find her destiny. she is now 50 years
old with no one to love and no one to love
her. she thought you love her. you give her
the impression that you love her.
you sent her food and flowers. she cleans
the house and feeds the dog and sweeps
the floor and changes your blankets and
dust your furniture. you never told her
that you love another and she was dead.
and that you can love other women your age.
nena cries and sobs and people inside the
bus become disturbed.

your new lover is asking ' where is your
bird in the cage? '

' oh, i set her free. i do not like
to hear a bird song', you answered.

deep inside yourself, a bird is a good riddance
actually. You have no time to feed it sesame seeds.

and a cage is not a good site to see at the balcony.