gone has no teeth

too quiet

that was the first thing

not peace

not pain

not even numb

just quiet

arriving too early

yesterday

i would have said love

whole word

steady mouth

no correction after

and i would have meant it

we were not fake

not almost

not a story repaired later

to make the ending useful

we were happy

that part stayed true

that part

is the problem

the body had prepared

its old ceremony

sleepless blood

salt behind the eyes

your name

returning without permission

nothing came

no aftershock

no sharp weather 

under the ribs

just air

wide enough

to make me doubt

what had been inside it

the love was real

the love was real

it just stayed where it happened

did not follow me out

did not ask

to be carried

memory opened

did not flood

showed me what had been

then closed

this one let go

when i did

no ruins

no smoke

no holy damage

and i stood there

complete

which was the strangest loss of all

the love was real

the love was real

it just stayed where it happened

soft end

steady breath

too quiet

still true

still gone