To the One Who Broke My Heart the Hardest

Dear John —

But this is not a ‘Dear John’ letter.

Once, in a letter to me, you said,

because I had signed, ‘Love always’,

‘Always is a long time to love. 

How about

Love ... as long as you’re still 

the person you are today?’

That was twenty-nine years ago.

I am of course changed 

but this I know:

when it’s love, it’s always.

******************************

‘The wind doth blow today, my love,

and a few small drops of rain.

I never had but one true love.

In cold grave he was lain.’ *

Probably not. I expect 

they burnt you up in a fire, your family. 

Whatever they did, I didn’t have to

witness it. Our love stayed secret.

And I know you didn’t intend

to break my heart, hard or at all. 

I have had other loves, all true,

and other heartbreaks, but ...

* A slight misquoting from the anonymous ballad, ‘The Unquiet Grave’

Day 20 - The one that broke your heart the hardest.  
And yes, this poem is out of sequence in the 30 days.