Voices In The Other Room
Not quite asleep I heard their voices rise
I could feel it coming the way a gull
recognizes the coming storm.
I curled in the covers still warm
but unable to block out the anger
in the nearby living room
heavy footfalls then the boom
of the front door slamming
and then silence before I heard the sighs
and muffled rhythm of her cries
I left my bed and searched for her
where are you Aunt Mary I called
the sound came from the hall
I found her on the steps to the attic
curled up small in the fusty dark
I'm fine honey, we just had a little
squabble and he left to get cigarettes
he'll be back soon and it will be fine
he came in looking chastened
gave her a box of candies and to me
he held out my favorite comic books
I returned to bed with Batman and Popeye
the sounds out there were soft now
the sniffles spent the heartache put away
About the Author: Sam Culotta is retired and living in Southern California. He is the author of two books of personal essays: Sleeping With Lumbago, and Clueless In Paradise, as well as James Dean Is Dead, New And Collected Poems. His prose and poems have appeared in various publications including The Write Place at the Write Time,. Avalon Literary Review, Rockvale Review, Cathexis Northwest. and As It Ought To Be.
Image Credit: Christian Krohg “The Green Room” (1920) Public domain image courtesy of Artvee
As It Ought To Be 