the ear too fondly listens

The ear too fondly listens   For summer’s parting sighs,

--   A.E. Housman

There used to be a shop here,   

now it is vacant room with a picture window 

There once was a child's playhouse

in a backyard that is only weeds and scraps of plastic toys   

On the sidewalk there are feathers, grey and black

residue from what were once birds 

Someone's windchimes,  frayed and tangled,  

make half hearted music on windy afternoons

everyone else has left town 

I'm just here to take notes