Photography © Karen A. Szklany

 

a gust of wind

In every face around me
I see the nothingness in their thought
The true absence of feeling
Of anything
And in each face around me
I see the nothingness in their being

In those close to me
I see the nothingness in their thought
The true absence of feeling
And in entering their minds
I find any memory of me
Any thought of myself
As a gust of wind
Only meant to be forgotten

In those who I love
I see the nothingness in their thought
The true absence of feeling
And in entering my mind
I find the islands of love and gratitude to the ones I truly adore
The etchings and carvings
That remain in my head
Forever to be remembered
And with every second
Every minute or day
I remember each and every one of them
Who I will love forever

But by them
I am anything but loved
Never to be remembered
Never to be thought of.

In the one I love most
I see the nothingness in her thought
And what I feel for her
Will forever be stuck to me
And follow my everyday
Every second
Every minute
Every single moment in time
I only think for her
And in my mind
Lies no island or carving
But instead
Stands in front of me
Just a picture of her,
And in every thought
I see her
I see beauty
I see love
And I see what I will never have.
Because when I look in her mind

I see the nothingness in her thought
The true absence of feeling
And my memory
Her every thought of me

A gust of wind
Meant to be forgotten.

 

Pedro Almeida: “I’m a 19-year-old Portuguese student. For as long as I can remember I have had an interest in art, music, and most recently in writing, and for the longest period of time it was, to be Frank, a superficial relationship. Until I started writing, which came not long after my first emotional breakdown. I vividly remember how nothing could ease my mind until I started writing poetry.”

Karen A. Szklany was born in New York and now lives in a New England co-housing community. She is the author of several collections of poetry, gardening books and Unitarian Universalist sermons. Karen also serves as a Life Healing and Transformation Coach on the labyrinth path.