Original DDE™ art: “Gone — But Unforgettable” — by: rob kistner © 4/14/26
—-<§>—-
where does love go
when it goes
after the last word
has been spoken—
but still echoes
through the bones
of the house—
echoes in your heart
when the room
goes quiet
and in the chair
across from you
sits a ghost—
her ghost
does she lean
seductively vaporous
across the table—
hands on the grain
of the table—
to linger languidly
in the worn places
where her tender hands
once lovingly rested
or does she rise—
invisible
but certain—
like a crisp breath
on a cold morning—
briefly seen
…then gone
have you felt her
in the pause
between heartbeats
in the way a name
a deep thought
or complex question
still arrives
unbidden
in the corner of your eye
only to turn
and she is not there
perhaps love does not go
perhaps it only loosens
…from form
…from voice
…from touch—
to become
a presence
unsolid—
but undeniable
waiting
in the unseen
for us
to feel it again
<~>
rob kistner © 4/14/26
Your poem is so heart-felt, Rob, and so deeply touching, the thought of the last word echoing ‘through the bones of the house’ and the ghost in the chair or:
‘invisible
but certain—
like a crisp breath
on a cold morning—
briefly seen
…then gone’.
Thank you Kim. You’re prompt with asking where is like something disappeared and when that popped into my head, the only obvious thing I could think of was — the ghost of love. I really appreciate the fact that you like it — thank you. … 🙂
A stunningly beautiful poem, Rob. I love
perhaps it only loosens
…from form
…from voice
…from touch—
to become
a presence
unsolid—
but undeniable
and all the rest of it, as well.
Thank you Judy. Your words are meaningful my friend… 🙂
Perhaps, love transforms into something more than is visible to the eye.
perhaps it only loosens
…from form
…from voice
…from touch—
to become
a presence
I believe the essence of real love is beyond physical dimensions True. It reaches to another dimension, a realm of the spirit.
I agree with the above posters, definitely feels personal and heartfelt. I really enjoyed listening to the Flack song while reading this, it sets the tone especially this line, “have you felt her
in the pause
between heartbeats..”
Thats some well lived truth there! Excellent poem, Rob!
Thank you Cara. Well lived, and well worn at this point in my life… 🙂
rob this is an amazing piece. one of your best.
Eric — thank you! That is a kindness much appreciated my friend… 🙂
“have you felt her
in the pause
between heartbeats”
Aww, that is so tender
Nice one, Rob
Much love
Thank you Gillena — much love to you my friend… 😉
the image .. the scent… it never leaves … haunting
The memory of love is persistent — if truly it was love… 🙂
I tried to chase my ghost away before I realised that it was me who made it. Only then was I able to understand better how to really love.
A thoughtful write Rob
Thank you Shaun… 🙂
A haunting presence…good one, Rob!
Thank you Lynn… 🙂
Rob, there you go again ~~ tugging so hard at my heart strings, I fear they are going to snap. Huge, long sighs from Bend.
I hear them Helen, they are received in warmly my friend… 🙂
Haunting!
I see hauntingly sad memories to be like ghosts Lisa… 🙂
“perhaps love does not go
perhaps it only loosens
…from form
…from voice
…from touch—
to become
a presence
unsolid—
but undeniable
waiting
in the unseen
for us
to feel it again”
I love these thoughts, Rob!
Thank you Sara — but I do believe, just like that eternal energy that lives on beyond our mortal essence… love is the true, infinite everlasting.
Ghostly, that is, “seductively vaporous” — Well done, Rob.
Thank you Dora… 🙂