Traces

I took a walk, this summer eve
to see if I could find you there.

There, in the pink-streaked sky settling down for its rest
there, in the laughter spilling through veranda doors
there, in the music notes that once made you move
there, in the children ignoring calls from home
there, in the swollen moon just claiming this night for its own.

I looked there, too, in the grass releasing its grip on today’s heat
there, in the little house you once told me was ours
there, in the well-loved garden that showed me someone still cared
there, in the words in my mind that all came from you.

I walked and walked until my feet longed for home
remembering how you came for me when I strayed too far
and though you weren’t there at all
though I listened for you but couldn’t hear
I found traces of you everywhere.