I

Big Yellow Candle

I used to have a picture of you next to my bed

that came from a photo booth

It’s lovely

but honestly

a little bland

The strange but kindly nothingness

we try to project

when in need of a photograph

that hundreds of judgemental strangers will see

in curious and unfriendly situations,

The suggestions we make

with our eyes and with our mouths

that we are not bad or ugly people,

merely doing our duty

Not one for a lover

Now though,

this small inoffensive thumbnail has been covered up

by a large black and white of you

blowing out your birthday candles

and smiling awkwardly at me

You hate it

but I like it much, much better