Your soul touched mine,
So I was born with your love,
Blooming on my face.

It drew intricate patterns down my arms,
full of crevices,
filled with your unspoken love.

It rippled across my torso,
In gaping blossoms,
Fruit of your gentle yearning.

It winds down to my ankles,
Caressing each step,
Holding me close to your heart.

The sun laments your radiance,
the moon your tenderness.
Stars sputter in night's nonchalance,
I your easy forgiveness.

Crickets sing their last song,
Until their souls rot.
I promise my last wrong,
know that it is not.

She'd sell her husband, then her sons,
A badge, a flag, another to run.
From hopeful faces, young and proud,
To flickering ribbons, asleep and sound.
She dreams of the spangled banner, red, white, blue and true,
Reaching for the stars, never a truce.