Inmy hand I hold,
The crisped petals
Of a once vibrant rose

In stonesilence
I stand ...

You waft across my mind like
A soft ocean breezeblowing
through my hair

... when I was a child
Saturday afternoonsfilled with
soccer trips and West Brom stats

You smelledof
Banana-nut muffins
My baking grandpa

As I grew and changed
Youstayed ...
Constant

Last summer,
we drove together on those samestreets
to work every day
And watched a new house being built

If youcould see me now
As I drive them myself
By the house nowcompleted

... the last fleeting scene
etched in my memories ...
youwalking,
the Persian carpeted stairs,
wearing a camel winter cap,
overyour glistening ivory locks of hair
tainted with sparks of gray

I'llnever forgive myself
For not taking another glance