his tears used to wake him
from an unduly prolonged delay
her smiles used to hurt him for
their beauty his heart, dismay:
their love had locked them up
and threw away the only key
and mile upon mile of wishful thinking
pushed them further away, though free
he looked into a well-used mirror to find
the devil he danced with was himself
and the fireflies that once lit their canopy
have also lost their former glee