And Then You Are Completely Gone Yourself...... Poem by RIC BASTASA

bring that picture back.
a family, where is the child?
there is this void.
you paint a rustic scene of
cows and pasture land.
where is the hay? there is
this void again.
you are fond of making us
all incomplete.
a party without you.
a plate without the food.
a house without a window.
a boat without an anchor.
a sky without clouds.
a frame which has only one side.
an earth without its universe.

and then you are completely
gone yourself.