For Henri

The most difficult goodbyes are the one we do not expect.

July 1999

I had forgotten about death
until yours stood in my doorway.
An uninvited guest
with a month's worth of luggage.

Now here sits the breathlessness
The air heavy with quiet
I long to open my eyes and wake,
But nothing comes, there is no comfort.

The memories I pull over me for warmth
are tattered and stretched.
So many words, but so much space in between.
An eagle spreads wide his wings,
shrugs off this life, and soars.