Martin Robertson

Now and Then

[Living alone is lonely]

Yes,

living alone is lonely, but loneliness

itself’s not hard to accept.

I found I could adapt,

not only practically

but in myself, more easily

than I could ever suppose

to my empty house.

I miss… not so much

a companion as such

but my companion (all the years,

the experience, shared)

and now, piercingly, you.

And no-one else will ever (I know) do.

And since I cannot have

you with me in yourself, the presence of

our shared love

keeps me company.

And that is not but has to be

and so can be, so is, enough.