As for you,
You scrape the earth with bare hands,
Searching for your brother’s head among the bones.
The brother who once sang in alleyways,
Wandered through cafés, dreaming of exile  —
But stayed up with you, counting stars till dawn.
He was human,
Tears in his eyes from a simple straw,
Joyful at the sight of rain.
Wasn’t it for him that friends gathered around?
Wasn’t he the warmth, the laughter?
Didn’t he resemble you?
You are him, and he is you —
The distance between you is wider than the skies,
Yet closer than thought.
You found him there, discarded,
But he no longer looked like you.
Isn’t he you?
I know your face,
As I know your home,
The shirts in your closet,
The scar on your ankle.
I know your eyes,
Even among the closed eyes—
You weren’t there.
Where are you?
I searched for you
in the crowd,
Through the tents,
Asked every lost soul—
Maybe you’ve blended into the weary faces.
But they hadn’t seen you
And I couldn’t find you.
You’re gone,
And never said goodbye.