Absence

Drop by drop the oil lamp
Burnt its hope and waited
While the night draped his mantle
of a zillion sparkling dots,
To kiss the dawn alive
And meet his deathly lot.
I remain at the corner we met
Tracing the outlines of your gifts
Captured shadows blew
lightness into my being,
Dawn's deepest secrets
revealed themselves to the night
And in my half-empty embrace, I held
the greatest gift of them all
silent presence, your absence,
Filling me with all it takes to love.