Vacation

by William Aarnes

Mouse droppings
along the kitchen counter

the morning you’re leaving
your house vacant

for a month.
A flight to catch

so nothing to do
but wipe the counter

and forget the chore
you’ll find waiting

the night your return.

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William Aarnes teaches English at Furman. He has two collections of poems: Learning to Dance (1991) and Predicaments (2001) both published by Ninety-Six Press. His work has appeared recently in the Red River Review, Curbside Quotidian, Prime Number, and Ascent.