Winter Pantoum 1 (w/audio)

I watch my pale, winter hands

painting butterfly pleas against an insouciant sky.

I pray and wait in solitude, in great numbers,

will you greet me when the sun returns?

We painted butterfly pleas against a pale sky

that solemn afternoon we lay curled upon each other in denial.

"Will you greet me when the sun returns?"

"I promise, upon all I hold dear, I will be here."

That solemn afternoon, we lay. Curled upon each other in denial.

You promised me Summer Eternal, your deceit jangled in my head:

"I promise, upon all I hold dear, I will be here."

You returned, with Springtime on your adoring arm, her beauty fruitful.

You promised me Summer Eternal. How your deceit now jangles in my head!

I shall wither with no mourners to gnash their teeth or tear out their hair.

You returned with Springtime on your adoring arm. Oh! How her beauty was fruitful!

Death brings a lover's touch, and I smile, grateful, as I watch my pale winter hands.