Without You

by James Babbs

all it takes is
this record that I’ve kept
for the last 20 years to
bring you back again
and
when I start playing it
I’m the same person
I was before
and
you’re dancing
next to me
moving your body
slowly to the beat
and
you’re laughing
your long hair
twirling in the air
and
you brush
your fingers lightly
across my cheek
but
when the music ends
I’m still here
listening to the silence
getting drunk
without you