when you departed I found a new world one of undying silence and an alien language without anyone to speak it to I thought I knew of grief And the depths of my gothic sea I didn't know when you departed I died so did my words and the atoms of me The sea swallowed me whole all I can see is a widening bruise on some strange body I can't recognise and the careful managing of sorrow strung of denial and disbelief I can hear the humming of the dirge of my heart's demise The soil of overcome balanced on the very edge of everything My hands shake The will to be is the silence and the ache is buried so deep with me it will take years to separate me from my mildewed heart.