December

December : He could not stay to watch her

In that fine careless rapture 

of their first togetherness

and in the full flowering of love

he nurtured her, he cherished her,

by his love he reassured her

that he demanded nothing from her.

He hoped for nothing from her

except that she might love him

and rest easy in the sweet house 

of comfort that he made for her,

beside the gnarled apple tree and 

he pool, petal carpeted with white.

She sat amidst the fragrant blossom

and asked ‘What drives this love?’

‘Acceptance of how all things are,

of how you are and of what I am,

blessings bestowed on what has been,

arms wide to welcome what is to come.’

He took her to a southern land where

crimson dark roses bloomed amidst 

crystal fountains and stone laced

arches in the Sultan’s gardens,

and the dark twisted leaves 

of the myrtle gleamed in the sun. 

They sat on the top of a mountain

the world unfurled at their feet,

great trees tinged with autumn, 

the dancing stream a silver thread 

amongst the darkening bracken

and the mournful crying of sheep.

For them in their joy the ordinary

became the extraordinary,

old cobbles shone with spun gold,

rough grass a green velvet cushion,

while lowering clouds glittered, 

reflecting a thousand invisible stars.

In a balconied white walled room

in a Home overlooking the sea 

he lay on a crisp white sheet.

Time for the intertwining of fingers,

words of love lovingly unspoken,

and a gentle caress on the cheek.

He could not stay to watch her

grow old, he would not mourn

the final disintegration of the body 

and failing spirit once so full of joy. 

To do this for him was now her 

privilege, and of that she was glad.

‘I am only alive when you are here’

he said, faded eyes warm in the dusk

and the lamplight, smiling goodnight,

putting aside the fear and the pain.

The air was sweet as with lavender,

vibrant with the song of unheard birds.

She returned one frosted afternoon

to the sun filled white bright room,

come with a kiss to wake her prince, 

but as the world gratefully embraced 

the day, he had begun his long 

journey and slipped quietly away.

                                                          Naomi