In Another Universe

[ficosdarkness]

You know I love you, always have, and will until those matching tombs,
built to hold my wife and I, so the charade maintained in life
will keep on through eternity, claims the body I’ve lent you.
Servant I cherish like a girl, why do you refuse my gifts,
the trinkets pushed beneath your door, the watch I strapped onto your wrist
when we first disgraced ourselves? I held close your sweating form,
muscles accrued in a labouring life, heaving armchairs, serving plates,
the thousand relics I’ve despised since first they grew familiar. You melted
like cream in my arms, blushed at the feel of my hand on your rump,
the way you did when I stroked it covertly as you served my guests.

I’ve fathered several children now. Perhaps that is my greatest sin,
breeding life out of death, the emotional wreckage my wife navigates,
moving among the socialites, trading quips on so-and-so’s blouse
while she wonders why I can’t touch her. How I ever could at all
seems incredible to me. Is this what’s causing your distance? The reason
behind the envelope containing all the gifts I gave? I laid you down
on my marital bed, you clutched the pillows, screamed my name, wept it
and I never shushed. Is this not devotion enough? Or do you feel
for my sweet wife, as I’ve grown numb to her pleadings?
In another universe this story might have ended well.

Very powerful imagery, Jack! It made me sad... intense read! Thanx for that!
fd