Before You, During You, After You

written for a person who has left me with the worst sort of lingering empty emotion.

my life can be
deconstructed into
three fragments:
before you
during you
after you


B.Y. consisted of numb living
going through the motions
without knowing why
without questioning
why that was okay
I did not know
you resided in this
expansive universe

D.Y.
illumination
contentment
frustration
longing

A.Y. a necessary title
for this present time
in which I am living
for you are not here

Oh, but you are
In everything
I do, see, feel

you are still here
breathing inside of me