the look she gave

My feet had barely touched the landing
- yet there she is again
trailing
 behind me
 with those eyes

For the fifth time today
I stood in front of the mirror
checking
 what those gazes meant
what were they meant for?

the couch squeaks
as she stands
suddenly
my feet are cold
and the green organdy curtains
look uglier   

I could feel
her breath
stifling
a sigh
but the muscles of her mouth betrays
it twitches
and I frown.

they pile up
on the floor
stuffed inside
 garbage bags,
dusty, broken drawers
garments I haven’t worn
since the days she looked at them.

Clothes ripped
from my back
by the striking gaze of stiff sentiment
the unspoken language
of subtle hostility

For the first time today
I stood in front of the mirror-
a different one.