Missing You
I know that I am
missing you
drifting you
as if we were on separate floats
coins of sun sliding
on the water our fingers brushing
and blue water cradles underneath
rocking in the liquid warmth
you don’t realize I am borne
away.
I realize.
I see that I am missing you
I see it like I see
friends long ago
the air is warm and colored lights
ride in the breeze above our heads
the table rough, the wine coarser.
I want to see my friends again, and see you again,
they are not there, you are not here
I see you laughing, grasping
for more, for me, my hand under the table.
Your fingers miss
And I am missing you.
I hear that I am missing you, not hearing you
Fingering guitar and song, laughter and challenge
Now there is silence, repeat, and defiance.
I hear you in my head
but the air is silent.
Dialogue redundant, replaced
by random post-it notes:
Don’t forget. Don’t forget. Don’t forget.
You forget, I realize.
Our fingertips miss.
And I am missing you.
Published in Tennessee Voices Anthology 2022-2023,
