ABSENT

Absent …

But never gone.

The space you occupied

Is empty…

So strange how that space

Can go unnoticed

For a time.

Until something turns my mind

To you …

And suddenly

It hits: 

You are not there.

Absent.

The space you occupied 

My entire life

That belonged to only you

That your presence filled

Quietly

Unobtrusively most of the time

Yet solidly

Consistently

… is now empty.

Unoccupied.

Can never be filled by another.

Absent.

I turn to where you were.

And you are not there.

I move to share something with you:

A full moon

A bird perched on a pole

An old joke

Fireworks

Someone’s foibles

… but

You are absent.

I’m comforted knowing

You are 

Present

In a space 

Far more wonderful than I can imagine.

Your absence fills your old space.

Your presence in another space fills you.