…lingering in the mirror

The pale ghosts of us are still lingering in the mirror
just fragile reflections, shattering like glass, or hope
a distant mirage, long lost, but visible for only seconds
in the cold corners of the night and the ashes of my memories
in my endless desperation, I reach out to catch you
but like fine flowing sand, you slip through my fingers
and the empty spaces in my broken heart
are still softly echoing, still quietly whispering
in the absence of you
the silence between us remains deafening
and tears are falling again
as over and over the storm in my heart
comes and then goes
and the inevitable void between the now and then
inflicts both pleasure and pain
the emptiness is vast and ever relentless
and it beckons to me again
I am left here all alone, with only my own thoughts
and my fading memories to keep me company
in my desolation, my soul turns away from the light
I am searching for meaning in meaningless things
but my grief is merciless, reminding me of my sins
until the weight of guilt becomes unbearable
crying out into the void
I beseech the night for absolution
but only the wind responds, a slow painful lament
I am now forever lost in this desolate place
my heart as broken, as the glass beneath my feet
our love, once a roaring fire, now just slow, fading embers
turning to ash, soon to be dust, upon the carrying wind
© Ann Bagnall