How Can I Miss You?

by Lionel E. Deimel

How can I miss you if you won’t go away?

My heart can’t grow fonder as long as you stay.

Don’t wait for tomorrow; instead, seize the day—

How can I miss you if you won’t go away?

I can’t reminisce while you hover about;

I can’t suppress loathing and anger and doubt.

It really is time to get up and get out;

I can’t reminisce while you hover about.

I’m sure, were you elsewhere, you’d seem very dear,

And my thoughts of our past might occasion a tear.

But, about certain matters, I need to be clear—

How can I love you as long as you’re here?

A friend recited the first line of this poem at a late-night gathering in a Johnstown motel room. She said the line was not original, but she clearly liked it, and I did, too. Driving home to Pittsburgh by myself, I wrote a poem to go with the line. (I don’t actually recommend writing while driving, but you can do it if you don’t care much about penmanship.) I don’t want to offer much commentary on this poem, but I should say that I was not inspired by quarrelling lovers.

 
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