i thought you will
last forever.
in the same way
i thought poetry only
rhymes.

but it doesn't,
and so are you.


it was a long time ago.
too long to remember now
but i do,
anyway.


like fireflies on a  summer's eve,
you illumined every path
leading to this final solitude.


briefly but brightly.


the show was beautiful while it lasted;
i'm honest enough to admit that.

but like everything you
ever taught me:
illusion has a way of obscuring reality.

it was a little late
when i became aware
of your cryptic absence.

for a while,
i thought you would come back.


no, i believed you would.


over the years, though,
that faith slowly dampened.

until, one day, it completely disappeared.


like you.


i wonder,
from that first moment,

were you ever there at all?