I must conquer my loneliness

alone.

I must be happy with myself
or I have
nothing
to offer.

two halves have
little choice
but to
join;
and, yes,
they do
make a
whole,

but two
wholes
when they coincide…

that is
beauty,

that is
love.

from Peter McWilliams' book of poetry ''Surviving the Loss of a Love''