In my realm of sadness, I have a place
I go. Nothing can refrain the steps
I take, the familiar landmarks, the out-
line of where I’m going. Pity is not
welcomed; regret, the way the loss
of moments and words and touch
and feelings, is rich in its depth
of absence like a deep, undiscovered
vein of gold just starting to be explored.
Beyond that and the certainty
of the unknown, I keep little else –
a picture, a quickly written list,
the fading scent of presence,
the unforgettable that needs no
remembrance.
-Byron Hoot
