Close Enough to Touch

You leave a space
Beside your name
Where your softest words
Used to be

I bring them here
You turn away
And leave me
Alone with them

With the same lips
That used to say my name
How can you say
Such unfamiliar things?

With lips that once
Would find my skin
You make a stranger
Out of me

Your fingers
At your side
And before you say
A word

Why do you look at me
That way?

While I hold
This trembling line
Look at me

Close enough
For me to touch
But this time
I cannot cross it

Even if
My bones burn
Don't look away
Until the end

If I have to
Watch you leave
Let me see
Your face

Was there a morning
When you were sure?

A page you meant
To keep for us?

Your coat
Still hanging
By the door

I search the spaces
Between your words
For somewhere
I can lay this pain

You move
As if to close the distance

I take a breath
You stay
Right where you are

If you take
One more step
The words I've held inside
Will slip away

While I hold
This trembling line
Look at me

Close enough
For me to touch
But I cannot
Cross it

Even if
My bones burn
Don't look away
Until the end

If I have to
Watch you leave
Let me see
Your face

For a moment
I forget
Every word
You made me hear

And the distance
Disappears
I can't breathe

Could I stay
A little longer?
There is nowhere left
To hide

Look at me

I can feel you
Leaving me
Again

As I watch you
Walk away
I'll stay here
But

Let me see
Your face

Until the darkness
Takes you
Again