*
“He has gone, and he will not be back,” said the house.
*
“Well, that’s the television set re-tuned,
he’s even got Eye-Tee-Vee-Three again now, so he’ll be pleased about that.”
*
“He has gone, and he will not be back,” the house re-iterated.
*
“Just the fire to sort, and the floorboards…
I’ve switched the sofas, re-arranged the bedroom drawers,
and cleared the hall to give him room for the walker.
Oh, and I’ve moved the vacuum cleaner from behind the
Dining-Room door for the same reason.”
*
“He has gone, and he will not be back,” said the house, again.
*
As the door pulls to, and the handle is lifted to turn the lock,
the casing gives a little and comes away from the wood.
“…And the door handle will need re-securing.”
*
“He has gone, and he will not be back,” sings the house,
presumably because no one is listening.
*
“Why won’t he come back?” I ask, not expecting an answer.
*
“Because he is going home.”
