They buried him.
I watched the ashes disappear and
Smiled.
He wasn't there, you know.
No hole to earth's hot center
Can hold his gentle soul.
I held it in my heart.

He came to me that night
We talked and laughed as if things were the same.
My heart sang,
But when I went to hug him,
He turned away and said,
I could not touch.

Still --
It was enough
that he was here.