I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

17 April 2011

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.

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