Life without you is life without color

Without music or laughter. Silent.

Lonely. Labored.

Like all the air in the atmosphere

Suddenly turns to hot oil.

And burns as you choke on the absence of everything you bring to life.

Like the oceans go flat,

Aching for the wild chaos of existence

And the ancient embrace of current and wind.

The forest goes silent

As birds forget their songs and their wings forget

How sweet the air tastes.