The couch went out,
\nnot because we abandoned it,
\nbut it was broken,
\nshowing its age,
\nan embarrassment
\namong the new and tidy.
\nNever mind that we slept,
\nargued, ate and caroused on it.
\nThat Jackie leaned over its back
\nto see ladybugs,
\nthat coffee blended in its brownness.
\nThat it had the softness and love
\nof old arms,
\ntheir tolerance and forgiveness.
\nThat it was there to be used
\nand shoved, and wiped up,
\nand came back to cuddle us,
\nto quiet our fears,
\nto invite us to stretch out
\nand talk,
\nand give us the wisdom of its silence.<\/p>\n
How many years did it live with us?
\nCould we not put it in some room,
\nthe cellar,
\nfind some use?
\nAnd we knew it was not possible.
\nI pleaded its case
\nand put it on the porch,
\ncleaned it,
\nstroked it,
\ntold it,
\nI loved it,
\nI wanted it to go to some home
\nwhere it could
\ninvite travelers to rest,
\nand tell them of its family
\nwhose memory is happiness,
\nlooking for us to return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The couch went out, not because we abandoned it, but it was broken, showing its age, an embarrassment among the new and tidy. Never mind…<\/p>\n