Phantom
by Bonney Jo Bott  12/23/2003

What is the difference
Between phantom love
And a phantom lover?

~v~

The embodiment
Of physical pleasure
Is a lover’s characteristic.

Satisfying deprived senses
To saturation
Occurs in a near-dream state.

~v~

Phantom love
Fulfils one’s dreams
To mend broken human hearts.

A phantom of delight
Assures adoration,
Desire and need.

~v~

Combined, there’s no delusion.
It’s all hopes and imagination
That bring missing love.

The specter reminds
Of the void:  elusive fulfillment
Experienced daily.

~v~

An abstract  representation
Lifts the spirit
With visions of happiness and future.

Is it delusion,
Hallucination, illusion?
No.  Loneliness.

~v~