Even as I shudder
and I kick the
wind out of myself,
with the back of
my hand or
the front of my mind

I know

You are there now
sleeping in a shirt
you love and
the remaining memorized
smell of me

And you are visiting
me in your dreams
even as I sit up
and listen to the
song that makes
us say good bye

And there will
be nights that
take me away from
you too soon and
a little late
with no tears
just the slow dance of
my waiting
for the other shoe

But I have chosen
faith over hope

as you sleep
in the thoughts
that we created together.