lanterns sway
as beated black
nightbirds shy away in fear
someone said we’d never see
a better time
to matter here

one more lie
I meant to tell
when wandered this
to vows replayed
wrote my name beneath your own
my sun eclipsed
by living changed

east was west
and south my home –
gave my willing soul a start
miles were written
sometimes still –
are empty pages –
curs’ed heart

becoming
of the place we willed
signs of life along the way
one more time
from once we knew –
warmth beneath
the lantern’s sway

. . .