Slow Surprise

There is a way subtle changes come to stay
 Barely noticed and hardly known
 One day you'll say "My situation's locked away"
 But by tomorrow, you're all alone
 It seems so sudden, but it's not, it's only grown
 From a seed that long ago was left forgotten in the snow
 And has a way with slow surprises on its own.
 It's hard to show, but like a boulder rolling slow
 Or a rumble deep in the ground
 Things whisper low, and by the time I really know
 What's been moving, they've settled down
 Too late to see they're shifting 'round
 Too late to say "There's bound to be another way"
 It's all been said and done without a sound.
 This comes to me, now that I begin to see
 It's not dramatic, it's nothing grand
 I used to be half the whole of you and me
 Now I'm the limit of half a man
 Seems so simple, nothing much to understand
 You walked out and closed the door, said "I don't live here anymore"
 Now nothing's hanging heavy in my hands.