seven o’clock and your mother makes you tea
she says sit down
the sky looks lovely today

doesn’t it?
doesn’t it

she says this very quietly,
tapping her red fingernails
against the white table

and you know she has
something important to tell
you

you know this because she’s gotten
out her finest china set, the one with
the blue flowers painted like beads

and you know she’s about to say
something awful and you look at
the sky and there it comes

your father is leaving

and all you think is how the sky looks
lovely

doesn’t it