He stays in the suburbs
living in silence
the man doesn’t scream
nor cry
he’s frozen in his memories
that have long since passed.

He’s stuck
watching his kids grow
as they abandon the nest
he wishes they would
freeze.

He’s stuck
watching the worthless arguments
with his parents
over something that wouldn’t effect
his life,
and he wishes
they would
freeze.

He’s stuck
as he watches
his wife’s body
wrinkle and crinkle
until she fades past his view
and he wishes that she would
freeze.

He’s stuck
staring at the unchangeable moments
behind him
watching
his children come and go,
witnessing his parents deal
with his ungrounded anger,
wishing his wife wouldn’t leave
to a place he couldn’t reach.

He wishes
that he could
thaw.