Thank you Michael... for the inspiration

Rain falls softly,
The streets blackened with heavens tears.
Alone, the building stands,
Grey stone, tiny windows set in it’s cold embrace.
A small door
Lit by a single red lamp,
Admits the furtive few…

Gaslights glow dimly in the silent wetscape
Of the mean streets.
A solitary figure stands there,
Rain streaming down his upturned face
Mixed with tears of sorrow.

His baggy workingmans trousers bespattered by rain and mud.
White shirt plastered to his aching back
Sleeves rolled up,
His old felt cap twisting endlessly in his large careworn hands.

Hours he stands there
Listening to the husky, dusky moans from her window,
His old heart aching with sorrow and love,
Knowing......Aware......

After countless days and long agonizing seconds of pain,
He sees her emerge.
Hair, golden as the sun itself,
Bed rumpled
Her blue eyes.. red and swollen
Her thin arms hugging her aching body,
As she makes her way carefully down the front stoop.

Feeling someones gaze, she turns cynically,
Already rejecting another violation,
And sees his loving face.
Shame courses through her,
Defiant pride shields her battered heart

Lifting her small face
She stares
Waiting for harsh words to batter her yet again

The lined face staring at her,
Crumples in grief…
Two words only..
Forgive me.