as a snake
shedding its old, weathered skin
lying on the ground
dust in the wind

He left her
as a butterfly
breaking free of its chrysalis
hanging on a limb
torn and sunken in

He left her
as a baby bird
flying out of its nest
testing its wings
looking for greater things

He left her
as bathwater
sitting in the tub
after he's scrubbed
*****, cold and unloved

He left her
as a piece of paper
after it's written on
crumbled up and tossed
in the trash
in a heap of banana peels
and broken glass