While you were out . . .

Ev’ry now and then, while you were away,

and I was doing my own work at home,

and was playing the music that I like to play,

and was doing my things in a way of my own:

talking to myself without feeling odd

and fixing my eyes on the plain white wall;

drifting between thoughts of language and God

and deep brooding thoughts ‘bout nothing at all,

there’d be a small whiff of you in my nose

that you’d left behind early in the day

in a blanket or in some of your clothes,

gentle reminders of your recent stay,

and a sweetness would sneak down through my chest

saying alone is good, but with you is best.

Benjamin Cline

7/12/05