In these
earliest hours
when things 
are easy 
here you 
were then
now gone 
and I 
am left
with cold 
of night 
and nothing 

I’m just being 
quiet like snow 
a few tinks 
maybe some clinks
but mostly I’m
just being quiet 
thoughts come thoughts 
go like drifts
that gather here 
and go there 
and finally away 
like dimples in
blankets or waves 
in the sea
seen then not 
thought then nary
remembered hardly not
dry again this 
glass this pen
and this heart

And the sky
such a sky
as my eyes 
have ever seen 
a watery sky
clear of anything 
but this blue 
which isn’t really 
even blue but 
these old eyes 
think it is 
as they do 
of you too
when they pause 
ever upon you 
seeing but one 
thing your beauty 
be it there
or ever not 

It’s been 
now awhile 
the longer 
it goes 
the farther 
it seems 
and you 
and I 
split apart 
like the
earth itself 
when struck 
by things 
heretofore unnoticed 
things that 
though unseen 
sent us 
into orbits
faraway from 
each other 
and forming 
new things 
now known 
as worlds
of their 
very own 

Ghosts so
many ghosts 
old that
haunt new
that come
all wanting 
to be 
as though 
my attention 
makes them 
anything more 
than dreams 
be gone 
ghosts my
heart has 
no room
nor rest 
for you