Gone

"I'm off", he said.
And with that
he was gone.

Like something
that was here once
but isn't any more.

Like the Incas.

Or a pea
that's rolled under
the fridge.

Or a spider
that's been flushed down
the toilet.

Or someone
who's just delivered
a pizza.

Or a pizza
that's just been eaten

except for a crumb
that's been taken by spaceship
to the edge of the time
and space continuum
and kicked out
into nothingness.

And then he came back
with the newspaper.