Hollow Inside 

By Valerie Kline

The words sound hollow in my throat

As you walk out the door for the day.

It seems as if you’ve already been gone for ages

And never returned to me.

Can love become a habit?

Can it become a rut?

How can you move it forward?

How can you make love worth it?

I’m a shadow in your life

Trying to make contentment yours.

I live and die here with you

No matter how excited or bored.

I fade in and out of what you see and do.

And yet I pay attention solely to you.

The things in life that come before me

I should be able to understand.

But as it starts to seem like anything and everything,

I’m drowning in time’s sands.

It starts at the soles of my feet,

A tiny tickle making it tremendous to go

Anywhere: forward, backward, above, below.

It moves up to cover my knees,

Dehabilitating what pleases you and me.

It hits my waist and will continue up,

And pretty soon, the sand called discontent will be enough

To cover my hands, my head, my heart;

It’ll take the breath from me

And tear us apart.

I need love and attention,

patience and affection.

Some laughter and fun

and happily ever after.

Please don’t forget me while you survive each day.

We need to spend some alone time away

From distractions of night and day

For both of us to focus on

Each other without delay.

The sands will clear

If you show me you hold me dear.

And I’ll be able to breathe

Without fear.

Please put me first for once,

Not behind work, or your love of disc golf or the hunt.

There are only so many hours in a day,

So many days in a week,

So many weeks go by quick

And become months.

Then the years fly by

And I’m wondering why

I’m here like a shadow,

Dark, waiting, and lying low.