it seems came her

adrift on mellow breezes
faintly scent o' strawberries

red dawn golden lashes  in rhythms
upon a meadow painted by
Emerson words and Van Gogh splashes

so lightly afoot
so not to spoil any of nature

listening
relaying

being
her.

you can't
no no no
this cannot happen
refrain
drawback
recoil
anything
just don't let this happen

I once knew a watch-thief
Who stole for his own
He wasted the time that he
Stole on the road
But this gypsy boy finds
A young girl one day
With a garland of flowers
And a red satin waist

She came from the highway
That led to the city
Her garments conveyed
She was wealthy and pretty
The gypsy boy wore
Some old slacks and no shirt
And he would not have seen her,
But she introduced herself first

Before hellos were said
Or greetings exchanged
Years later he said
He could feel something change
As she told him of ease
That she left behind
He fell to his knees
And praised God’s good design

If love is a lifetime,
Then lend me your hand.
The sparrows are witness
That my promise stands
And now our gypsy wagon
Is off down the road
And we’ll never stop moving
Cause this is our home.

This small band of gypsies,
Now larger by one
Trundle the pathways
and roads they call home
The watch-thief reclines
with his girl in his arms
they fall quickly in love
‘Neath the light of the stars.

But if hindsight goes further
And time teaches true
There was blood in the water,
If only he knew.
She came down to his level
But took it too far
She went too far in revel
And slowly, she broke the boy’s heart.

The gypsy boy stood,
Still stock still in his shock
He ducked under the hood
Of his caravan-rock
He walked back to the city
She’d said she was from
He put it in a bag
And he drank in the slums.

If love is a lifetime,
Then when will you come?
The sparrows, our witness,
flew too close to the sun
And now my gypsy wagon
Is off down the road
And now I’ve nowhere to go
because you were my home.

you said
you loved me
and i know that
it isn't true
if you ever say
that again
i'll know now
not believe your lies
ben, i loved you
and still do
i just don't want
to loose you
all over again
goodbye, ben
remember that
i love you
from the bottom
of my heart

the ripe, red fruit he used to pick

from the tree in,

the garden he loved.



i remember.



his eyes.

still.

appearing lost

but

always watching me

from the distance.



i remember.



his smile.

no words.

just

the constant flashing of

a row of not-quite white teeth.

like unpolished pearls.

but pearls all the same.



i remember.



his old chess board.

and,

the way.

he

moved.

each.

piece.



i remember.



his hearty laugh,

when a joke was told,

or

when he just wanted

me to feel

loved.



i remember.



the way his body

looked.

before he turned into

ashes.



i remember.



when he was still breathing,

when he was still walking,

ever so slowly.



i remember.



the tears i shed,

my heart that bled,

when she told me he

had gone away,

never.

to.

come back.

again.



i remember.