I saw her every day
Lying there, so peaceful
I told her our story as much as I can,
Before she awoke and screamed.

She didn’t know me yet.
She didn’t remember.
That’s okay too,
I still walk the mile to her bed
Though she hates me,

It didn’t matter.

It was her dying day.
I held her hand as
Her heart slowed
Beat by beat
Each one an effort.

I don’t know what made me do it.
“I love you,” I begged.
My eyes might have leaked a little.
But worse,
I leaned forward and kissed her.

Her eyes opened at the sudden sensation
And just for a moment
They cleared of that haze
Inside them returned the joy
When we jumped into that pond
And the youth
Because her mind was still that beautiful young girl

after all.
And just for a precious second,
I saw myself in her eyes
And they returned my kiss

Just as gentle, just as sweet.
Both our hearts beat faster, together

But hers stopped.
Her eyes closed.

And I was left nothing.

Nothing is never nothing
Nothing teems with life,
Little fluctuations giving little excitements;
From nothing comes everything
And nothing might bring something.

I didn’t know that then
When I walked away
That in the nothing I felt
Was only emptiness
And all it would bring, if anything

Was grief and loneliness

And until I looked up
To see the endless green prairies by the trees,
I would never know why
She would return.

Because, after all,
Death never sleeps either.