Unfaithfulness hurts.

A summer of smoke,
heat rising within, flourishing without.
You once waltzed in arms
other than mine but, you are raising doubt
as to whether that fire is out.
You two in shadows--
both married to someone whom you professed to love--
sharing deep kisses.
I wonder if our love is genuine
as with another you stand intertwined.

A summer of hurt,
splashes of scarlet streak ivory walls.
Teardrops cascading
but the screams die somewhere inside, halted, stalled;
deep down within something shatters, bawls.
What is a vow
uttered without any commitments?
It is called a lie
so why should one tarry in such torment?
Something pieced our love in that moment.

A summer of flames
but, what died turned to ashes with bones.
We merely went on.
Years pass--the love we share is mine alone--
you’ve no love at all . . . cold as a clone.
With every deed
you’re pushing me to say, “I can’t stay.”
Why not just say it
if you want me to leave you, go my way?
If you do . . . I can leave you today!

A summer of smoke,
hurt,
flames . . .
still simmers.