> [!QUOTE] Poem > > # *As You Leave Me* > > Shiny record albums scattered over > the living room floor, reflecting light > from the lamp, sharp reflections that hurt > my eyes as I watch you, squatting among the platters,  > the beer foam making mustaches on your lips. > > And, too, > the shadows on your cheeks from your long lashes > fascinate me—almost as much as the dimples > in your cheeks, your arms and your legs. > > You  > hum along with Mathis—how you love Mathis! > with his burnished hair and quicksilver voice that dances > among the stars and whirls through canyons > like windblown snow, sometimes I think that Mathis > could take you from me if you could be complete > without me. I glance at my watch. It is now time. > > You rise, > silently, and to the bedroom and the paint; > on the lips red, on the eyes black, > and I lean in the doorway and smoke, and see you > grow old before my eyes, and smoke, why do you > chatter while you dress? and smile when you grab > your large leather purse? don't you know that when you leave me  > I walk to the window and watch you? and light > a reefer as I watch you? and I die as I watch you > disappear in the dark streets > to whistle and smile at the johns > > — [[Etheridge Knight]]