The Distancing

He told her he only wanted her happiness
But his actions betrayed his words.
He couldn’t stand her away from him.
She had migrated, like the birds.

She was now the princess
Of another distant land.
Each evening offering her glove
to be held in her new prince’s hand.

He wondered of her safety.
Her health, her goals and dreams.
He tossed away his silly poems
That had consumed paper by the reams.

He scoured for pictures
A hint, some trace.
Scraps of memories
In an attempt to recall her face.

He could hear her voice
Deep within his head.
It was fading slowly
As was the things she had said.

Like water and wind
To the cliffs nearby,
Images of her were eroding
And he felt the urge to cry.

So many times, they said farewell
But the parting would never last.
This time, there was no goodbye
But she was filling more of his past.

Forbidden
and forlorn.
Forgotten
but not in scorn.

Another dance among the clouds
All realities suspended.
Another gaze to recreate the distant past,
What may be and all that has finally ended.