i waited for you

you never showed up

but for you to complain


i gave you food and entertainment

i laughed with you

and talked with you

and held your hand

to what we thought

was then the promised land


i waited for you

i was hungry for you

you never showed up

you ran with the other crowd

you laughed and talked with them

or so i heard


you left me lonely

and cried in my sleep

tears wet my pillow

i tossed and turned

i burned

in the knowledge

of your back turned to me


turned on me

left me

only the imprint of your shadow

in my mind,

you never showed up

only your vague memory

like a whispering ghost


i heard you came looking for me

i was gone

you held your reward in your hand

an empty pail

of left overs meant for me