27:

The family in the house
at the end of the lane
left suddenly, leaving
their possessions
and owing rent.

Last night I  looked
into their shed for flowerpots
and saw wedding cards,
broken family pictures
and a grey vibrator.

They had only been
there six months,
seemed happy..their kid
played with ours.

Then the man was on
my doorstep one day, tears
running down his skin:
I didn't let him in.

I sensed if I comforted
him he might never leave
and I hardly knew his ways

as he told me how
she had been having
an affair for five years
and their child was four.