Dishpan Hands

They ask what happened

after nearly five years

together, but not

as discovered

too late.

Shrugged shoulders

and blown lips

don't explain it

as well as this:

Today, stomping in my boxers

like on the best of Sundays

at what used to feel like home

I moved six houseplants

to different zones

of shade and sunlight

based on their color and turgor

instead of watching them

die.

That's my new response.

Final answer.