She who did not come, wasn't she determined
nonetheless to organize and decorate my heart?
If we had to exist to become the one we love,
what would the heart have to create?

Lovely joy left blank, perhaps you are
the center of all my labors and my loves.
If I've wept for you so much, it's because
I preferred you among so many outlined joys.

Jane waited for you
by the narrow road
that led to Linch farm

the water tower visible
against the afternoon sky
of pale blue and white

cold clouds
she was dressed
in a grey coat

and her dark hair
was pinned back
with grips

you noticed
blueness
about her lips

the cold taking toll
wasn’t sure
if you would show

she said
the coldness
and such

I said I would
and I say
what I mean

you replied
once you were close to her
she took her hands

out of the coat pockets
and linked her arm
through yours

where shall we go?
she asked
you know it better

around here than I do
you choose
you said

let’s go up
the dust track
to the hollow tree

on the way up
to the Downs
she said

ok
you said
and so you walked along

and up the dust track
side by side
and she talked

of the wintery trees
and what birds
there were still about

and how she liked
spring best with the coming
of flowers and birds nesting

and you listened
looking at her
as she spoke

watching her lips move
how when she spoke
her white teeth showed

and now and then
her tongue would show
and it reminded you

of that kiss she gave you
up by Diddling church  
as you stood looking

at the grave stones
and she gazed at you
and then kissed

and her tongue
touched yours
and it was like heaven

as if someone
had opened up
your heart

and stuck
their tongue in there
and as you thought

about that kiss
she talked of some girl
of a cowman

who’d got pregnant
and how did that happen?  
she asked

and you said nothing
but listened on
and then you reached

the hollow tree
and climbed inside
and sat down

looking out
of the hole
in the side

and it felt cosy
in there
like a small home

and she leaned
in against you
and there was silence

and you looked at her
at her eyes
and hair

and how her lips
were parted
and her white teeth

showed and her tongue
waiting to speak
and you wondered

about that kiss again
and whether
it would happen this time

there in the hollow tree
out of sight
of others

and she showed you
tucked between
her small *******

a small locket
which used to be
her mother’s.

Patient though my heart may be
Its bounds shall not exceed
Thy tender loving creed

And open though my eyes may be
They live within a dream
Thy flaws remain unseen

And truthful though my voice may be
Its words shall not reveal
Thy heart how I would steal

And curious though my ears may be
They’d refuse to ever hear
Thy honest truth I fear

And trusting though my soul may be
It’d struggle to believe
Thy words of kind reprieve

So troubled though my mind may be
My self restraint shall free
Thy pain of knowing me

For longing though my heart may be
Its pride won’t let it speak
For thy love is out of reach

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.

Before him,
She couldn't sleep or dream.  
Haunted dreams and starry nights.
Life began.

A whispered affair; wine, cigarettes and fear.
He taught her to adventure in dreams.
And awakened her mind to her own creativity.
She made him feel again.

They lost each other through hard decisions.
She continued.
He moved on.
He still quiets her mind.  

For the first time tonight,
She didn't think of him.
The inevitable step in some direction,
In one's path not taken.

She was crippled
Lost in her thoughts
As pieces of her life shattered around her
She was caved in
The room began to spin
Everything raised
As what was left of her hope began to fade away
Spinning, and shifting; no escape
Never let loose for a breath of fresh air
But caught in despair she drops the razor
Flushes the pills
Drains the alcohol
But grabs the knife, and ends everything including her life

Annie,
oh Annie!
You pretend to be a friend.
Funny,
it's funny--
I'd miss you now and then.
Really,
I'm weary--
you'd see me "only when."
So Annie,
cruel Annie,
this fondness better end.