Now and Forever

The moon had been full as it was that night,

and she had been so beautiful in its light . . ..

He would remember for eternity every detail of her face,

and could still feel how his hand fit the curve of her waist.

He could smell her perfume, so fragrant and fresh

and remember the way she'd lay her head lovingly on his chest.

She said that she loved him now and forever,

and would leave him for nothing, no one, never;

And he told her that her love would let him fly,

up to catch for her the stars in the sky.

She asked him never to leave, and he promised he wouldn't;

she asked him if he was sure, and he told her he couldn't. . .

He would leave her for nothing, no one, never,

and he would love her now and forever.

She kissed him then with gentleness

and he enfolded her in his warm caress.

Under the moonlight they stood, the gentle winds singing,

but now he only heard in them a spiteful stinging. . . .

The moon now was full as it had been then,

but even touched by Divine light, his heart would never mend.

They said their farewells and made a tender vow

to meet up in the same place a year from now.

She said she was going away and that she could not stay

but swore to return a year from that day.

He told her that he would wait and his heart belonged to her,

and she said the same with a gentle loving purr.

Then she left, and after a long look back

got into her car and drove off fast.

He watched her go, and if he had been himself then. . . .

But he knew he could never go back and do it again.

He went home in a daze with moonbeams in his eyes

and barely heard the T.V. say 'accident--all have died.'

He felt something inside of him leave him right there

as he colapsed in front of the set and watched with a vacant stare.

He saw her picture, the same one she'd given him,

and heard the woman say they were notifying next of kin. . . .

The moon was bright then, high, and whole,

that day a year before when he had lost half his soul.

He kept his promise and returned to that place

sitting down numbly and staring into space.

He placed for her lilies in the spot where she'd stood,

and wished for something to bring her back, although he knew nothing could.

He fulfilled his vow made a year before,

and would still be reminded forever more.

For the day she had died he had lost half of himself,

a sorrow he knew for eternity would be felt.

He thought of his half-life and how he had lived since,

and he knew he would be the same a hundred years hence.

Within his soul now was a throbbing abyss

which hurt even more as he remembered that last kiss. . . .

And quietly he repeated the words of his vow,

the words he would keep forever and now.

"I will leave you for nothing, no one, never.

I still love you now and I will forever . . ..”