today –
i asked –
have you seen –
my me?
bewildered,
at least portrayed-
you summoned up your ounce of –
empathy –
responded with eyes more cold and vacant
than winter desolation;
no!

today –
i asked if perhaps,
just – possibly –
i passed without you noticing?

indignant –
emotion-starved –
victimized stare,
your face told me more truth than any words
escaping from your tightly clenched lips…

and there,
behind your lie –
evasive as your affection –
i found – myself!
shivering,
cold as the embers of passion from a fire
so long ago left (not) burning!