we were peculiar
like a magenta stem on green zinnia
no room for ****** romance
we would not fail to fail

you were persuasive
like an outlaw con man
I was devoted
like a cloistered nun is to Christ

surrounded by the furies
we danced a terrible tango
muddled whispers of lingering lyrics
loving until we burst

like a broken egg
at once a terrible and beautiful thing
we parted, disillusioned and illuminated
an axiomatic answer to the quest

if I were to wander the world
I'd find no one like you
At least I hope not
you were exceptional