Stop Gap Lovers Poem by Lynn Loomis

they were wooed by us one way or another
enticed by the words we said once to each other
stop gap lovers to fill in the space
left here in our hearts
when we parted long ago

we found warm bodies to cling to
words softly spoken your face in my mind
when i lay down each night closing my eyes
focusing inward i hear your voice
breathing deeply i catch your scent

he is not you she is not me
we have filled the space with something very shallow
no love behind the words no promises meant behind the vows
all that we promised each other now given to a ghost
the only use for anyone is to fill the void left by your memory

no one was good enough no one measured up
we tried all that was out there and nothing sufficed
all fresh and rosey for a time newness made it
but soon the truth floated up and we knew it was doomed
beating our heads against the wall of the loss

some met on internet some in the workplace
none of them suspecting
that we never would let them all the way in
all ended badly every one of them hurt
the carnage was nothing compared to our loss