The Missing

At 3 a.m., it is hard to tell

conversation from dream:

was that you laughing

or just the memory of?

If I cover my head

to hide this moon, revealing,

can we pick back up again?

Talk about whatevers,

smile in that easy, easy way,

share our secrets and laugh

without reservation…

or would you remain shadow,

ever crossing my path like this,

without regard for the missing?

IMAGE: Moonlight, Edvard Munch. POEM ©2018, Jen Payne.