THE 'NOT YOU' OF YOU

you have
abandoned me
to a world without you

escaping into your death
leaving only
a you in black and white

photos of you
that are
‘not you’

a blaze of perfume
from a Coco Chanel
jacket lapel

your voice
now
only a tape recorder’s ‘voice'

I listen to
the silences between
your words

the taking of a breath
the hesitation before
the next breath

your accent
so familiar
only guessed at now

outside
the night takes away
another day

the dark
dark beyond belief
my face reflected in a window