the first time you held me

it was like a house burning in the night.

and for the first time

the world around me

-illuminated only by fire

seemed black, immense

frightening.

the moon a pale seed

buried in the earth

with no more light, no more substance

than ghosts, than memory.

being with you meant understanding

being without you.

being without you was unbearable,

cold, immense

black

- a pain illuminated only by fire.

my heart was lost in it

as cool, as distantas a nameless star.

nothing you could say

could call me back.

nothing could