left their old blue sofa
in Arizona
washers and dryers
strewn on the way
someone got
our bed, mower, and piano
in Carolina
there on their very last day
that long ladder they left out in Utah
with fuel tanks of gas and propane
a grill and a pile of hoses
moving nearly made them insane

’cause one door always closes
tho’ they always had good luck
there were moments of glory
out on the road
but some days there just wasn’t
room in the truck
they bought stuff
over and over
cuz they needed a new one
that day
already had extra copies
packed in boxes
stashed in storage units
miles away

they hired over
a hundred movers
who were pleasant
and strong
and kind
they loaded ’em here
unloaded ’em there
over and over,
didn’t care where
it wasn’t easy
but they didn’t mind

but oh every scratch,
every rip, nick, and chip
every split, break, and tear,
every missing piece
every new sign of wear
every dent and gouge,
new punctured holes
inflicted on furniture
poked through their souls
all the things lost
scraped and dragged
blemished and heaved
what is the cost?

they got dragged
and dropped,
slammed and
mashed,
piled high,
stepped on and
thrashed
pushed around
knocked on the ground
never knew why
shoved a bit
heaved and hoved
crushed and driven
it was daunting then
though they’re better now
for all of it

they’ve written
their story
over thousands
of miles
there were
special moments
tribulations
and trials
proving their vitality
in hospitality
across miles and miles

goodbyes to friends
the greatest cost

© Copyright 2025 Brooks Bradbury / BrooksLooks. All Rights Reserved.