The Smell of Absence 

Sitting on the stairs in pitch dark,
immersed in the sound of night.
Glow of cigarettes, the only light;
mind numb with loss, 
no desire to go on.

Faint footsteps, 
registered in your anesthetized senses.  
You wondered whose was it?

A female voice came from behind,
asked: what you were doing there.
No fear did you feel,
only a mild irritation.
Who was it?

Silence......
Surrounded by the sound of absence 

Another drag of cigarette;
in its bright glow, you felt vexed—  
it was too bright,  
perhaps a disrespect,
to the sanctity of the dark.

You felt her sit beside you,  
felt a touch on your hand.
The female voice asked —  
Did you lose your love?

Silence......
Surrounded by her absence.

And you could smell the shampoo  
you'd smelled so many times  
on your love.