Every Conversation

I haven’t heard your voice in so many years

and I can’t remember how it sounds

the only place it’s recorded is on a wedding video
from long ago
a tape that technology has rendered obsolete

footage that I can't see
even if I wanted to

which I don’t

I can smell your perfume

I can look at photos

and remain composed
they're scents and scenes
for my senses

but when I try to unearth your voice

it’s like it’s been erased from my memory

as if every conversation we ever had

is now a silent movie
I suppose it's somewhere buried deep
and I have truly tried to dig

but I know if I could hear you speak

it would all come back

and

I

would

crack