A man who was and is no more

This was his wife and is his widow
these were - are? - were his clothes
these are the scars he left on his children
these are the things he shaved with
his is the presence still felt in the house
his is the everywhere shadow

The anger still lingers
among the bits and pieces
like the silence after shouting
as if he'd be back

I know where he is now
locked in the past
safe in the grave

But the past is still with us
and the grave is not deep
he is buried within us
neither he nor I sleep.