You Were Gone

I searched for you among leafy streets;

A V-striped dress I wore;

Retracing steps on quiet paths-

But you’re not there anymore.

I wandered into that burger place,

And to that back roads bar;

A cosy place where three of us chatted-

Now I don’t know where you are.

Waiting on a platform for a night-time train-

You asked him to go on home;

I blindly followed you where you led-

But you chose to be alone.

I rode the long escalator wondering how

You held the stroller that day;

My boy is so tall now and he knows your name

But you have flown away.

I sat underneath the spiky seed trees

And faced you like we did in year ten

I almost told you a secret or two

But you don’t live back then.

My eyes took in that old fireplace –

You had stood there with dancing eyes,

Watching me talk to those you knew;

Now you have cut the ties.

Back and forth, the memories swirl;

Time keeps marching on …

Would you have searched for me and rebuilt the ties,

If you hadn’t been gone so long?