I fell asleep clasping a tight container of compliments collecting condensation they stay on the pillow with my head and neck coating my insides I open my eyes and the dawn shyly emerges staining the cieling a golden transparent breathing on to my skin and hair even the mirror, beams in her attention saluting the room with reflected light I turn to my side to face your absence placing my hand lightly as to reach for the gap of your back and between your fingers where is it that you linger now? is it in the persistent throbbing of my head, the stiffness of my fingers, the monotony of my heart beat, the coldness of my back, the pins and needles in the arches of my feet? No love, these only mark your absence. So where is it love, where is it that you linger? somewhere in between the pen and the paper the dreaming and waking in the way you prime my body and collude with my eyes to see beauty and be grateful