A Letter to My Lover Far Away

Back to the weary roads we’ve walked through, 

I shuffle through the dimming starlight.

Once again I find myself in the heavy, mournful autumn haze, 

Yet within me, 

Only drought remains. 

My love,

I gaze at the fading twilight of my own face 

as seconds turn into an everlasting night.

No longer do I see the wet drops of tears;

They sink. Dry up. Disappear. 

My love, 

My stiff fingers remain in a similar shape,

Dancing over an old pen, its end in sight. 

I scream, weep, and smile,

Serenading your melody on paper that burns away. 

If one day you find a moment to sit and think for yourself 

on how far you have traveled in search of meaning,

I might already fade into ashes of longing,

Remembering the warmth of you in the cycle of moon and sunlight. 

As you journey through the boundless sky,

When unworthiness sets in,

Ring the bell within your mind and hold fast

To the truth that you are eternal in the pages of my heart. 

Tiffany Putri

Minneapolis Central Library - Tue, Aug 20 2024