You opened my eyes
so that I might see
and when I was not looking
                                     slowly you opened my heart
with your patient kindness
  and I remembered how to feel
You reminded me what it was like
to come home to someone
   to be talked to
      and listened to
            hugged and accompanied
whether cooking in the kitchen
                together
or watching some tv
         together
driving around town for work
                                 or not work
                 together
and I do not thank you for that
        I do not thank you
                  for your kindness
because I so dislike being right
         about people
and I am right about you
that despite all your intentions
whatever it is that they are
      I have been injured
  and the fault is ours
            together
you for not listening
when I was perfectly serious
and I for knowing what would come
                          and loving you anyway
how could I not love you?
       gentle, kind, patient, intelligent
with a fun-loving streak
and a soft spot for ice cream
dedicated to your dreams
because you still have them
and because of you
       now I don't
You reminded me
that no matter what is said
        in the end
the very soon end
     you will leave
and once more I will be alone
alone in this big room
full of your people
our people
together
and I do not thank you for that.