The sky as always undecided gray, opening, closing— slack mouth of forgiveness, of apology.

To a Departing Companion

Only now I see that you are the end of spring cloud passing across the hollow of the empty bowl not making a sound and the dew is still here

quite generous. It knows something we don't,

Imagine being brushed by the air enough times. Imagine you're unrecognizable.

.

He closed the door. January bit through the walls.

The bed kept the warmth seventeen minutes, then none. No witness but the sheets.

I thought I stayed.

I inventoried the fridge. The cream had turned. I was late to the news of myself.

I didn't starve. I just never came back to the table.

Even hunger has standards.

I left later, quiet enough that the air forgot me. I went the way women go who survive too long.

Afterward I moved through the rooms without arriving. I loved like a light you forget to turn off.

when everything else fell away you brought me back to show me how easy it is to fall

I detest how easy I thought it was to know myself to continuously learn I only know the failures of us together, you could never satisfy me

you taste awful I know you can't save me you are the location where I save myself

by Bejan Matur translated from the Turkish by Nell Wright