We walk along a dirt path
you’re quiet, I fill the void
I tell you about all the things in the news
that annoyed me this morning
and the pets I had growing up
and the dream I had last night
and the plot of a book I’m not writing
you’re quiet, I fill the void
I complain about my feet
and stop to take photos of flowers
I tell you what they are
(you already know)
I think about lunch
and run out of things to say
I’m quiet, you fill the void
you point up at a tree and say
look at those birds, aren’t they nice?
this type of bird, they mate for life
and I believe you because you know things
like which birds are monogamous
so we stop and watch awhile
in comfortable silence
until I tell you about that time
my cat brought in a pigeon (deceased)
and the pigeon’s mate waited
in the garden for weeks
wondering where its partner went
I say it like it’s a joke
and you tell me it’s sad
we walk on
you’re quiet, I fill the void
All rights. Rowan Smith.
Rowan Smith (he/they) is a trans, queer writer and artist from North East England. He enjoys writing strange, spooky poems and short stories, and is currently studying to become a librarian.
