Ran across this as a memory on Facebook. Almost reposted, then gave it a little more thought. This is deserving of a bit of preamble. A clarification if you will. One late night I asked myself, "What do you miss?" Began a list. Found my mind wandering to a time and place of everything I remembered, and off I'd go, writing about this thing or that morning. Half hour later, I had two things on my list. So, I took a breath and began again. Closed my eyes, tilted my head to the left and quoted a line, then to the right and quoted another. Stop, write it down. Close my eyes and repeat. Left, right, tick, took, write it down. This free verse I'd posted last year was simple my list of misses. I could then (and have) go back to visit each of them and give each the attention they deserved. So yes, rightly so, the musing, although complete in and of itself, may at first glance seem a little disconnected, but here you have it. "What Do I Miss?" I miss being touched, Holding hands, giving back rubs, Tender hugs, Gentle breath on my chest When she laughs, Slow dances, In the dining room. Shaking her head no, (When she really means yes). Her hair wafting Shalimar Just for me. Her voice whispering More. Morning coffee Across the kitchen table, Bare feet atop mine. And on, and on, and on,,,,