THE STAGE

You stand before me
You’re standing alone
And I- in this empty room
Yet the room is so loud
And horrifyingly silent
Though many we once knew surround

Like a dry wine
The harsh turns to sweet
I stare at your face
Your frame-
Then my feet

I think of the past
Of your laugh
Of your street
I think of the hurt-
Summer heat stings

My mind tries to fill in
Blanks from before
Savoring seconds
Whilst begging for more

You stand on the stage
I stand far off and obscured
Time has made you older
And the drugs, too, I’m sure

While I used to resent you
I have it in me no more
My heart became gentle
In the years that I mourned