Unorbiting

That person —
The centre of my life
Every day for decades
To whom I was tethered
Day and night

And those —
Infatuations, attractions
The affairs of my youth —
The orbits I had vowed
To follow all my days

And those
My children, my own —
Who counted on me
My love, my joy

Those places, callings
People and ladders
I clung to —
Circled around
For so long

All that — gone —

Centreless
Unoriented

Among —
Unbound, I course
Orphaned