The Nothing Answered Back

Is it okay? The way you miss before you knew better?
When you could change the shape of love depending on the weather?
When flowers in the concrete couldn’t break your heart for days?
The death of a small mammal didn't whisper “nothing stays”

Aren’t you grateful for the nothingness?
The way that sparks don’t catch?
You asked for this and here it is -
The nothing answered back

Do you feel shame? The way you live like you deserved it better?
Is it your age? Collective pain? Or just the constant fretting?
You pick up every person just to try them on for size
And whisper to yourself again “We’re all supposed to try.”

Aren’t you grateful for the nothingness?
The way that sparks don’t catch?
You asked for this and here it is -
The nothing answered back