Absence Poem by Gert Strydom

I keep myself occupied
by searching for a job
on the Internet,
writing stories and poems,
taking care and feeding the animals
and sometimes I carry things
to the garage and back
and measure instinctively
about every step

and wonder why
I still care so much for you,
read stories and poetry books
and try to learn
something from other writers.

There are white arum lilies
that grows wild at the river
and on strange places
I see flowers
as if life makes opportunities
for the outcasts

and there are simple things
that I keep me busy with
to try and forget
how empty and painful
your absence becomes

and when we are together
things sometimes get muddled,
but without you
it’s the darkest night.