For thirty-five years they had lived together,
treating each other kindly;
never a word of trouble.
She never said anything to her husband
about going to California
where their married daughter was living.
The neighbors told him
that she was going;
she had said that if she had a choice
of California or Heaven,
she would go to California.
Her husband answered
that he knew nothing about it,
and said nothing to his wife.
She went off while he was away cutting brush;
never bid him good-by
or left a note.
Since then they had not written to each other
and only heard from each other through their daughter.
Everything had been pleasant and nice
and your wife packs up and goes off.
How could I keep her if she wanted to go?
She was not bound to stay.
Do you think your wife would come back
if you wrote her a nice letter
and told her how much you liked her?
I hardly think so.
If you would go there,
do you suppose she would come back with you?
I suppose if I should go for her,
she would come back;
but it would be a good while before I'd go.
Charles Reznikoff, Testimony
