you listen to your pain
i am deafened by mine
we see each other's mouth move
wonder at no sound
i lift my hand to touch your face
you mistake i wave goodbye
you turn and skitter--
pebble across steelsmooth water

i think your hand must brush
rustfleck from your eye
i watch your shape dissolve
a smokey silhouette to one
with dusk and so no more

a gasp of breath escapes the skin
across my chest
and pulls my pain from head
to heart

i am running
after you
to the point
where your shadow
disappeared

i am bringing
everything i know
to reassemble vapor

and that is nothing