Her shoulder was bare
a bronze shimmer
uncovered by the slip
of her sleeve
he couldn’t help but to gently stoke the curves
the sea breeze played with rogue strands of hair
and her beauty was her sadness
as she gazed unpon the ruins
of her buried heart
she seemed inconsolable
yet defiant
and a calm peace
drew him in
and he loved her in that instant
like he’d never loved before
and knowing it was completely hopeless
reconciled himself
to her protector
and keeper
of her faith
in something greater.
she didn’t move
and he took this for her compliance
a small mercy
in the tragedy of their lives.