i was so lonely when she left
when the house was emptied of her spirit
when i stood there by myself.

i took stock of what i had lost.
i spent days in my head
in my memories
haunted in my solitude
and the echoes of misery.

then i recorded it.
i took note of what had been lost
told the stories
reported my own legends
and after i put them down
i let them out.

i put on a show
with a podium.
a little service
to commemorate what was missing
and when all was said
i put the pages of the speech
in a pile
and lit them.

the fire went quickly.
i let it all go.

i am still lonely
but the place
seems freer now.