Empty

That gnawing feeling,
well within,

sometimes caused by
a brief glimpse
of a life you’ll never have,
that smile she’ll never wear.

Tried to fill it
with a bottle.
Tried to fill it
with fire.

You’ve never had much success
in pushing down the demons,
or burning them out.

How is it that you can be
so full of them,
and still be
so empty?