bravery

your absence pulls like a sore tooth

crowding out the doings of the day
persistent disconcerting deafening silence


filling the edges of consciousness
the corners of the room
the gap on the sofa

an aching gap disproportionate to the size of you
who are no longer here


The mundane transformed by loss
into feats of overwhelming bravery

like taking toddler steps without a hand to hold

sleeping in a single bed
preparing a meal for one
making mince pies
shopping, signing cards
returning to an empty silent 'home'



the pain of remembering is better than the fear of forgetting


but we don't speak your name enough