Seven

“We’ve been joined at the hip

at the first light of dawn,

bound tightly together as though

to detach is sure death.  Yet,

all unions face the test of time,

of kin, of rivals, of dull cynics.

And yes, we must admit,

the fools that we are at times,

we have been torn asunder.

But here we are today, unruffled,

still dreaming of tomorrow

without end or pause. Persistently,

our worlds collide.

Now I know there are no years,

no months, only now.

The past is a bittersweet memory

full of lessons,

not a record we must replay,

or leftovers we must reheat

for breakfast.

Yesterday is not to be ignored,

for yesterday I met you when

the fleeting thought that I

would marry this man passed by my mind.

Yesterday is full of tragedies

of our own doing, without doubt,

smearing today with so much

bitterness and how-could-yous.

There are no excuses

to turn to and save-face,

only we, ourselves, can salvage

the shattered promises and

wipe away the tears

that have dried on our cheeks.

We chose to stay even when

the gloom of dusk was blinding us.

It is only wise then that we let go

of all grudges and disappointments.

The beautiful days we have envisioned

on the first day garnished with innocence

when smiles touched our ears,

are still ours for the taking.

And this is my vow:

I cannot,

will not

love another man

as I love you now.

In your eyes, my fears dissolve.

In your arms, I have found my home.

And in my heart, here you lie alone.” 

~Dawn Rauto