Before Starting Again Poem by Kurt Philip Behm

I took two months off,
all words in remiss

I took two months off,
putting nothing at risk

I took two months off,
your voice—a deaf ear

I took two months off,
without holding you near

I took two months off,
death breathing inside

I took two months off,
from memory to hide

I took two months off,
you waited in pain

I took two months off
—before starting again

(Villanova Pennsylvania: October,2017)