The Shine Journal - The Light Left Behind

Empty

by

Charles Darnell

 

Coffee sits cold on the kitchen counter.

I turn the pages of the paper,

Reading just the headlines.

The house is quiet,

I hear the ticking

Of the clock on the wall,

Old-fashioned, I know,

But there is comfort in it.

The day moves on,

Routines performed with

Automatic reflex,

Not really thinking.

Then a sudden thought of you

Catches me unaware

And before I know,

The sweeping is done,

And you are still before me.

Your smile and crinkling eyes

Float just out of reach.

Evening finds the sun

Leaving its smudge of pink.

Supper, a bowl of soup

And memories of you,

Thinking of our French dinners

Of bread and cheese

Topped with wine and conversation.

Night finds me reading,

My head propped on

Double pillows,

But soon, my eyes are

Running over the words,

Not really seeing.

My head begins to nod.

I reach for the light,

And although I have the whole,

I still do it,

I still sleep on my half of the bed.

©Charles Darnell 2012 (revised 2013)

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