Before Starting Again

I took two months off,
  all words in remiss

I took two months off,
  putting nothing at risk

I took two months off,
  your voice—a deaf ear

I took two months off,
  without holding you near

I took two months off,
  death breathing inside

I took two months off,
  from memory to hide

I took two months off,
  you waited in pain

I took two months off
  —before starting again

(Villanova Pennsylvania: October, 2017)