Before I realize that I’m lonely,
my mouth opens.
Words stream forth
crowding the air that separates us
and flooding your ears.
Only 15 minutes,
I try to cram it in –
a week of events
a lifetime of love and fear.
Silence,
once like saffron,
devours me.
Until it’s broken,
I forget to miss your voice.
Selfish,
hoarding this resonating comfort,
I ramble
and neglect to hear.
Our city.
Too quickly inherited and
My city.
Always two steps behind,
I chase your shadow.
Breathless,
I grasp street corners
crowded with empty faces.
Invisible,
I flee down trash-filled alleys
chasing
reaching
grabbing only air
full of your fading scent.
It’s enough to remind me
that I am alone.