asunder

On the fire escape of your rented room
we sat and felt the empty city
sweat and fret      we passed a cigarette
back and forth      as once we passed
words like these between us      without
hope of keeping
                        Now I write
without hope of answer      to say
that what we gave each other nakedly
was too much and not enough
to say that since we last touched
I am not empty      I hear you named
and my heart starts      the pieces of your voice
you left      are interleaved with mine

and to this quick spark in the emptiness
to say Yes      I miss how love
may make us otherwise

Copyright © 2009 Craig Arnold All rights reserved
from Conduit
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission