with the date
once more
looming
I find myself retreating
to that corner of my mind
where your smile
however lopsided
still greets me at the door
where your voice
strong
yet strangely
simultaneously
soft
still speaks my name
where your jokes
however tired
and oft-repeated are
still made twice over
like a ritual observed
where you walk
your walk
once proud and strong
now slow and deliberate
sometimes limping
still, side by side with me
where your words
your wisdom
your guidance
never forced
always subtly given
still reverberate in my ears
the date
once more
looms
your loss
ever apparent
and I retreat
to memories of laughter
of weekends
of a family
complete
and
together
still
in that corner of my mind