The Silver Fence

 

A poem not about getting back together but a poem about honoring what was, surviving what is, and wondering—gently—what might still be allowed.

Title.

The Silver Fence.

(A lone voice whispers)

Life without you is a strange thing.

It's like living divided by a silver electrified fence, and the fence runs deep into infinity and is uncrossable.

I live on one side, and you live on the other.

The fence has memories and mementos hanging on it, and every once in a while, when we feel brave, we climb to the fence to look.

Look, but don't touch. See, but leave be and climb back down to be swallowed up by our worlds.

Swallowed up until the next time we are feeling lonely and brave enough to return.

I really still miss you and think after all these years we could build a doorway in that silver fence.

A doorway that leaves us the option to cross over.

Cross over to perhaps say hello.

Put new mementos on show on the other side but simply to rebuild old bridges.

We may never be whole like before, but sometimes snow in April isn't everything. XXX

(C)

Copyright John Duffy 

Image shared under fair usage policy.