The ones we’ve loved
never leave us
they haunt our dreaming
waking sleeping
needing
The ones we’ve loved
never come back
nor return that part of us
that waits
long after the appointed time
has gone
The ones we’ve loved
unexpected
visit us
at the dinner table
when we’re laughing with friends
who asks the stillness,
“are you alright?”
The ones we’ve loved
are cruel and heartless
hurt us always
always hurt us
so we wander
empty helpless
wanting
to be forgiven.