Whats worst of all s when hes alone at night
but shes there, she hasn't gone
He recalls the time when they where one
Which is the only paradise we can presume
to try for
Though of short duration
lasting not long as a rose in bloom
So now there not in the Garden anymore
Like he was the only boy in the world
and she was the only girl
but sitting in opposite chairs in the living room
And maybe hes reading the paper or pretending to
and she has a book or a bible
and between them they have nothing to say to each other
Except to try to coordinate their doctors
appointments
If he took her in his arms now
She would flinch and pull away
Totally frustrated by this bizarre behavior
And perhaps in his reverie he gazes out the window
And sees some lovely slender young girl passing by
and thinks in words of the poet,
"Once i knew one lovelier then any of you."
Which is not much consolation
No more then the sight
of the stars of night
which shine big and brightly enough
but are dying embers
in the ashes of his lethargy