Affairs of Heart

 
Leaves the color of burnished bronze,
Sky, a wet iron hue,
I remember lying on a blanket of stars
Captivated by you.
 

It was all so long, so far away,
Youthful affairs of heart,
Counting on luck forever, granting us our due,
Knew we would never part.
 

Yet, I went off, promises made,
My fortune still to earn.
Left your arms emptier than they were at our start.
The cost I’d later learn.
 

I thought I stood, proud and mighty,
Complete man of the world,
Conquering hero, you set, longing my return,
But found love’s banner furled.
 

I watched you, white satin with lace,
Take hand of another,
Glancing, our eyes met, you shrugged, then green bouquet
hurled,
Saw my lifetime smother.
 

All I could do was remember, when dreams were real,
Sweet years, long ago, a sun’s shadow-throw away.
Daring hubris, I found my price too hard to pay,
Midsummer’s day, sky the color of sharpened steel.