Now that I’m gone,
She can go to a beauty salon.
She can try a dress on
When she goes to a store.
She can pick out wines
And buy wine, and buy more
Than when I was there,
And she can be at ease when she dines;
In her kitchen let her count tines;
Let her oven be off or on,
Now that I’m gone.
She can take long walks by lakes
And she can go on the internet,
And if she senses the offers are fakes
She can smile, and think of me, or, forget.
Let her write memos and fret,
Let her vacation message be off or on,
Now that I’m gone.
She can make a batch of cookies
While she talks on the phone,
She can watch a movie with a friend, or alone,
She can watch a nature show on bees,
She can visit historical houses,
Or stay in and sleep, and have wonderful dreams,
She can throw out old blouses
And bras and when someone blames
Her for something she didn’t do,
She can explain patiently
And not lose her temper. The madness grew
When I lay with her by the lawn
And that was because she was a beauty.
Today she does what she needs to do
Now that I’m gone.
She can laugh. She can laugh.
She can laugh and laugh and laugh
And fall asleep with the television on
Now that I’m gone.
She will leave early, but not too early.
She will surely
Never be hopeful at dawn
Now that I’m gone.
But dread or hope—
Who knows their scope?
In a mad moment or two, hope may really turn her on.
She can go to a beauty salon,
Now that I’m gone.
