These walls have surrendered to the pain of not hearing
the echo of your voice
not seeing the silhouette of your profile
contrasted with the backdrop of the settling sun
These walls no longer embrace you
protect you
simply implore for your safety
yearn for your return
They keep your smell
Threaded in the very composition of their being
Your essence confined
To their memory of you
These walls stand erect
Though inside they crumble with nostalgia
Yet remain strong
for you
They stay trapped somewhere between
the writhe of gasping air and
exhalation of turbulent sobs
Inside of them labyrinths of
Emotions
Convoluted
Struggling against each other
Walls that can’t reconcile
Their loss of you
With the world’s gain of you
For how can something so precious
be contained
These walls have stood
Robust
Compassionate forts protecting you from
Deception and fear
They stand in solitude
contemplating the possibilities of your future
inspired
they await
Still standing – Robust and compassionate
For further reading on this poem see “I Promised Her the World” in Bits and Pieces.
Alma de Colibrí 