A final time?

The Final Time

A voice is heard in the Grand Seral,

crying for my love, as I could not

do then.

Then I had to be brave.

Let her go to her

new love.

Smiling, scattering benedictions,

complaint, complaint upon a day,

Venus wailing.

As I looked across the room,

and saw her smile,

I knew she was happy.

And me?

I turned my face to what

Fate had offered.

Not knowing if I was merely

a sacrificial victim,

but knowing my loss.

Of comfort, let no-one speak

for what is that to me,

on these sad heights?

The memories crowd in,

the faces, the kisses,

but most of all – her.

And the thought that in her

home place, I met one who knew her,

and loved her as I did.

Oh, the tears come now,

as they could not then.

Rahab weeping.