that old rose you gave me
at the dance
now lies
in an old book i kept for many years.
the smell has disappeared
and the color is long gone;
kind of like our love.
the hopeless nights without each other are gone,
and the energy has disappeared.
our skin touching one another's
has been missing for months.
and of course,
foolish me,
seem to be withering away
as well.

{-m.j.}