Poem for John

Because of your military background and Sandhurst voice,
Because of your wild white eyebrows, as mobile as eels,
Because I knew you before I knew you,
Because you could see with your third eye,
Because you saw me and smiled,
Because you said, ‘Are you ready for an adventure?’
Because I felt heard and known,
Because of your delight in chocolate biscuits,
Because of the predictability of cauliflower cheese at your table,
Because you died.
Because I miss you with an aching loss dropping into a bottomless void,
Because there are things I still want to ask,
Because love became universal.