I wonder sometimes, Thom, if you address loss head on; if you capture it in your gaze and stare quietly, benevolently at it until it blinks, can it still cause you pain? I think less so. I think when we look at what it is - someone leaving, not being with us, not there any longer - and focus on just the love we had for them, maybe some kind of metaphysical reaction occurs. Like all of it just dissipates into the ether. Dissolves in a wisp of memories and love and it's okay so that the pain dissipates along with it.

Or we just do what we always tend to do, and focus on all that won't be any longer. The cuddles or conversations. The laughter, the smell of aftershave or Chanel and think-think-think about all we've lost.

Great poem my friend.