their easy laughter
the glimmering of their mind
like sun through stained glass
I wonder if I see them
or if through them, I see you

birds startled awing
dashed across the glowing skies
like scattered inkblots
these things that I cannot word
I crumble another page

today we both found
the cat beneath the dumpster
how familiar
to see their extended hand
met with impervious eyes

a rustle of sheets
a foot comes loose to dangle
in the humid air
despite the sweat and silence
a dream proceeds, unconcerned

a whisper of snow
upon the last breath of spring
unheard by summer
I watched the frost turn to dew
and thought of your thin smile

in this other world
beyond wall and waking dream
the sun flickers out;
amidst the stars' perfect light
the moon rises in darkness

thoughts scatter like leaves
like words, strewn far and drying
now that you are gone
autumn settles in at last
and the world's feet are heavy

yet the stars still shine.
by their light I bring those leaves
together again—
as you wrote because of me
so I write because of you.