"Dear John
By the time you read these lines,
I will be gone."
The rocking chair,
The only piece of furniture
Remaining
"Dear John
By missing the deadline for your
Dissertation
The school will not have you
returning."
The books are boxed
The rocking chair rocks on
With every breath
Taken.
You don't have to die
To have lives wilt and cry.
Looking around through curious eyes
Nothing which was remains.
"Dear John
Your lease has expired
You will be moving on."
The rocking chair
Rocks on.
The twilight seeps in through
Windows without curtains.
The door opens
A moment of melancholy
The door closes
The rocking chair without him there
Becomes still
In the twilight air.
The first stanza, "Dear John, by the time you read these lines I will be gone" is from a 1988-1992 American sit-com called Dear John, it was the opening theme song. Always thought it was pure poetry.