stagnant love

a boy and a girl
play together in the dark.
he is the knight
she is the princess.
he holds her hand
and she is no longer afraid.

the sound of their laughter
cannot be feigned.
their world is real
truer than ours
because at that moment
they believe.

their faith is real
withstanding even
the challenge of time.
he is strong, tall, a handsome man
she is a vibrant girl with intelligent eyes
the two are still holding hands.

the harshest lesson:
he looks away,
empty spaces between her fingers remain.
some flowers only bloom once
a love as rare
and red and true but too fragile.

now stagnant water
drips in the darkness.
listen, somewhere alone
a woman quietly sobs
her scarred hands
hiding her wizened face...

fortress

glittering under the summer sun
are perfect, solid walls of gold
a castle built by a little girl
as she lets her dreams unfold

time is elusive and beyond her grasp
so seasons change and years pass by
and she still returns to that home
though hurt has aged those once-bright eyes

her fortress grows with passing time
each grain, a reflection of her past
of a destiny and a dream never fulfilled
of a love and a faith that did not last

her barrier still waits on that shore
waiting for one to prove her wrong
now, it's just nature's mighty waves
forever keeping that fortress strong

thoughts on summer

lying under the blazing, summer sun
with golden light kissing my cheeks
listening to the quiet hymn of the earth
tasting the sweet stain of love on my lips

yesterday.