If

By Edward Lee

April 2, 2018 ✍ Poetry poem unrhymed

Edward Lee's poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen and Smiths Knoll. His debut poetry collection "Playing Poohsticks On Ha'Penny Bridge" was published in 2010.

When you return
I want to tell you
I have lived
since you left.
I want to tell you
of courses taken,
people met,
books read,
movies seen.

I want you to know
that I have lived,
I didn't collapse
upon myself,
or drink myself
to death.

I want you
to know that.
Before your return,
know it now,
so you might know
that I have changed
as I have lived,
that I am not the same
as before,
I'm almost completely different.

So different
you might even
love me again,

as you once did.

I shall write you
a letter, this
letter, just so
you know,
and when you come back
I will tell you
everything else,

everything,

when you come back,

when?

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