By Tricia Thomas
Date: 20 September 1999

Plane crash

If I had known that you’d be gone 
when I awoke,
I would have studied you longer,
taking in every scent 
and every taste of you,
feeling your breath on my face 
one last time as you lie sleeping 
on this crumpled sheet.

I would have memorized 
the curves of your arms,
the softness of your touch.
I would have traced 
the profile of your face, 
permanently recording it 
in my subconscious,
to recall at will on sleepless nights.

If I had known that you’d be gone 
before I gave you my heart,
 you would have had it straightaway, 
without hesitation, 
at the first moment we locked glances.

This isn’t fair.
You must come back.
I haven’t stored enough memory 
of you yet to fill this emptiness 
you’ve left me with.

If I had only known…

T2