If you miss someone you loved
and you still see them, somehow
faint, fraying silhouette in the fog
and you look for their ghost
on a park bench, on the sofa
in the café you used to go to
there as if in remanence
– what if you did
what if you saw them
what would you do
would you go to them
and ask
how do you do
do you miss me
even just a bit
can I sit with you
would you
and everywhere you find their face and traits,
trace their mannerisms, and smell
in everyone in the metro and on the bus
in every footstep you hear them
and every time your heart
misses a beat
you hope and dread
that it’s really them
– what if it were
what would you do
would you run after the metro
tap the person’s shoulder
turn them around
cup their face into your palms
and kiss them tenderly
would you
and you still think of them
watching a video, reading an article
baking a rhubarb crumble
for the world made more sense
and food tasted better with them
and conversation with strangers
and sex with strangers
feel dull and deepen the emptiness
– what if they suddenly called
would you pick up and tell them
the world disappeared comfortably
with them around you
with them in you
would you ask them what they think
because their voice
filled the void like no other
soothed the tinnitus
would you chat with them
until dawn like you used to
would you
and you imagine them
in someone’s arm, having sex
kissing, cuddling, embracing
and it wrenches your guts
and you still extend your arm in bed
in the silent dark of nights
your fingers expecting to touch their body
– what if you did, what would you do
would you hug them so hard
you couldn’t breathe
would you say you’re sorry
tell them you’re happy
now you’re in their arms again
would you
would you
