without her

he lies down in bed
her ghost lay beside him
what once held warmth
now holds only silence

is this what he wanted
this lonely life?
or will he fill it now
with other women for a time?

still her scent lingers
long hairs that were hers
he’ll never admit it
admit all he’s learned

without her emptiness
paints the whole room
he wears indifference
everywhere outside of this tomb

dull the four walls here
dust piling like leaves
once vivid with life
but now are deceased

the memory of her
is all that remains
his hand reaches out
but grasps only pain

how does he replace
a thing of such beauty?
time can heal some but
not all old and new wounds

letting go of the past
is a difficult thing
not seeing a future
stops the pendulum swinging

so he must move on now
and shoulder the weight
life with her in it
the chance he chose not to take