On Temporary Absences

It isn’t so much
not being with you
     at times,
that makes me sad;
rather the thought of you,
     alone,
doing familiar things
that I’ve seen you do,
     but without me.

And
it isn’t really
not being with you
     at times,
that makes me blue;
rather the photographic image
     of us,
doing familiar things
that we have always done
     together.

And
it isn’t so much
that such a long time
     must pass
before our time begins;
rather the fear that then,
     beginning,
our years will pass so quickly
that much will be left
     unsaid,
     undone.

~James Douglas Fanning