After you left

You were my lover
you lived here for years, and then
you set our past on fire
and left

But there’s so much of you
that remains here still

on empty shelves 
your favourite poets, gather dust
Neruda. Guillevic.

a half torn greeting card
is taped to the wall
a romantic, just like me
you carried a tune
on your lips

now you’re gone
and your room will be cleaned
it will be
repainted and repurposed

but nothing 
can erase your presence here
that continues to linger
like frost on windows.