Me and my soul

Me and my soul —

watching the distant stars,

like they’re watching us.

Shivering under the cold moon,

birds singing somewhere far.

The rainy night wraps us

in a quiet cage —

where warmth has wings and flies away.

A shadow whispers,

and the wilted rose breathes again.

The windows stare at me,

as if they finally hear

me and my soul giggling.

Two cups of coffee —

their smoke curling through the room.

The cigarette kisses my old lips,

the candle flickers —

like we’re still alive.

A sip of coffee warms my body,

a drag of smoke shakes my heart.

I wave —

the shadow waves back.

Then the wind arrives —

takes the coffee,

the cigarette,

the light.

My soul slips away again.

I lie on my couch

and listen

to the echoes of silence.