Nightfall

Evening descends
         to extinguish the light
and a desolate sky
         weighs on my shoulders
Why is the past
         so unforgiving
the present so pitiless
         : was this the day
that love left on tiptoe
         my affections disdained
my kiss turned away ?
         I now carry my heart
in my pocket
         ragged and spent

We loved one day
         at a time
and for a time
         it was good
until the hand
         was dropped
Love may return
         sooner rather
than later but
         as for my breath
I will not hold it
         or I may die

John Lyons