Evelyn

For thirty years,
my friend Evelyn
had the habit of
leaving the lamp post lit
in her front yard
and her garage door
open
all evening
as if to say,
I might drive out
on an errand or adventure
at any moment.
As if to say,
as a friendly reminder,
Here I am.

In Evelyn’s house
after her funeral
her grown children
left one lamp lit
and drove away

Mornings before dawn,
I see it from my kitchen window
as I stir my coffee