The woman stood and watched the moon
slit night’s sequined dress to expose,
a dismal earth in stiff repose
waiting to greet the dawn and swoon
like Clytie for Apollo when
daylight illumes her face again.
Her thoughts led her into his arms
but even there, she could not rest
for restlessness lay in her chest
and sleep and its sonorous charms
held no meaning in her eyes
or between her sobs and sighs.
Yes, she was sad! So sadly sad
because the love she could not hold
had made her heart grow stiff and cold
and in her mind, she was half mad
for wanting him, his smile, his eyes
and lips that could not move for lies.
Oh! how she wished that he would lie
just once and whisper she was his
and he hers for as long as is
the earth, the sun, the moon and sky
forever and forever more
his heart will linger by her door.
A knock, she turned but not before
the window caught her slim profile
and held it there just for a while
her full, soft lips that smiled once more
and hair as brown as autumn leaves
fell down her back in silky sheaves.
She dried her eyes and quickly fled
across the room and down the stairs
past sorrow, heartache, empty chairs
to open the door that should have led
to him who was not standing there
but framed a world, full bleak and bare.
He was not there and now she knew,
no hope would cross her path again
no arms would hold, no kisses rain
on her in mornings, so, she withdrew
into the kitchen and lit the stove
she would not live, for lack of love.
