Corner

Corner

I like to hold my breath

as I walk around 

corners because

the tiniest drop of hope 

still clouds my veins.

What I have is 

a child's dream, really,

that perhaps, 

like an afterthought,

you are only lingering

in places unseen. 

Maybe you are 

not really gone, 

you simply live beyond 

my desperate reach, 

squirreled away

in a place where

try as I might, I cannot

breach. I know you 

are not here anymore, 

but I will still linger there

before the corner,

trying to pretend that you

are standing 

around the bend, 

waiting patiently for me 

to follow.