~Absence's Visit~
Absence came to visit
Me and my heart the other day.
He brought along his
Younger brother, Distance.
We sat by the fire
Of my resolve and
Talked of many things,
And when we ran out,
We spoke of Nothing.
"Bach says there's
No such place as far away..."
(I mused)
"Nonsense...
(chortled Distance)
I'd be out of a job if
That was true today."
"Maybe that's why
You still live at home,"
(Said Absence)
"Yeah...
And Mom always
Intrudes on my space,"
(Responded Distance,
scooting further away)
"How come my heart
Doesn't feel fonder?"
(I asked Absence)
"A Hallmark publicity stunt,"
(he quipped)
"That's really a job
For cousin Retrospect."
We spoke of emptiness
And spaces between
Our smiles,
Of how Yearning moved
In to stay for a bit,
And how they had such
Differing styles.
"You'll fare better with
Yearning instead of Indifference,"
(Absence continued)
"At least he doesn't eat all your food
Without a single thanks,
Leaving your heart's kitchen a mess."
"Yearning can help you
Cross the barrier of yourself,
And then I'll come back
To take old habits away,
Leaving Yearning
To then be Absent." (He smiled)
We popped some corn
Of fresh ideas,
And my new neighbor
True Perspective joined
The evening talk.
The evening ended,
And Absence and Distance
Had to go away.
For now, however,
Yearning felt it was
Better for him to stay.
MEBH/@Copyright 8/99
