I’ll leave the light on

In the darkness,

in the deep

Life’s shallow breathing

where I cannot see

I’ll leave the light on

knowing full well

the slim odds

of your returning

from the furthest reach

I’m not counting

on fingers or toes, but

I’ll leave the light on

for the someday

for the maybe

for what we’ve

always known,

I’ll leave the light on

in hope,

in love,

skeptically —

I’ll leave the light on

just knock on the door

I won’t be waiting

all night in a chair

but the light will glow

and the door will open,

and in the dim shadow,

there, I’ll be standing.