”Bygone Times” (2024) By Rachel Sumner
You've been away
Much too long to say
Much too long to justify
But I sift through thoughts and find
You settle right behind
The lids when I close my eyes

I rerun and review
Each moment with you
Hoping to find what I missed
Suppose the stars aligned?
Suppose we'd drunk more wine?
Would you have stayed if we kissed?

On and on it goes
Keeping me up

Don't think about it now
Don't ask, "what if?" or "why?"
Don't think about it now

In bed these bygone times
Kindle a crime
Against the one I lay beside
He'd never guess
His kiss and caress
Makes me wish you had tried

On and on it goes
Keeping me up

Don't think about it now
Don't ask, "what if?" or "why?"
Don't think about it now

Could you tell me where you went?
Do you know how much
I wept for you?
Do you?