A Castle of River Stones

Sitting in his garden

we piled smooth flat stones

one on another

until they looked just right

Tower after tower

to build

a castle

of river stones

each piece

polished by the tumble
of rushing waters

Not a word

only a smile

or the brush of a hand

need pass between us

for me to know

he understood

Pain can not always be fixed

but the comfort of companionship

might sooth its stabbing ache

We were one at times like that

hearts and souls connected

moving in silent unison

as we made stone towers to nowhere

He had learned

to stop running from his pain

and so he had the courage

to simply sit

with me

in the dark place of mine

never feeling the need

to get away

or to make repairs

I long for him now

long for that garden

for those days

when I could sit

instead of being constantly

on the run

But he is gone

and I'm afraid

of the pain

for without him here

I believe its darkness

may devour me

Waking Sleep

The days were too short
the nights even shorter
I didn't want to sleep
for fear that when I woke up
you'd be gone
It was like a dream
but you were so real
I could smell your scent
hear your voice
feel your touch
and yet...

Dreams shattered
like glass
stained with dried blood
yours or mine
maybe both
My heart bled out
and yet here I am
Not you though
You're gone...

So many years passed
water under the bridge and all that
My days and nights drag on
my dreams are dull
leaving me to wonder
were you ever really here at all?