One Last Winter's Night With You

The fire is softly dying, I gaze into its depths
Waiting,
I always seem to be waiting for something.

The candle is dimming; the clock falters its beat
shades and shadows...
grow stronger, drifting over my skin
As I imagine how your body used to feel beside mine.

If I could only have you here, for a breath or two
I would be content to release my last moments
to have just one more winter's night with you.

The snow silently flows down outside my window
I look,
and see it rise ever higher above my hope
Diminishing every memory, every footprint
you forgot when you left again.

Upon my dresser, my lamp burns and extinguishes
darker and darker...
as I lay full of heartache and dreams never loved.
In my palm,
a seashell, a letter, a necklace, a poem
as i stare and caress the remnants of tangible love
I read between the lines of tenderness you gave me.

Inside i hear your voice, sweetly calling
But your presence I fear is far from here
Still I wait,
Darkness stains my old windowpane
As I stare out at nothing to be seen, yet still I wait.

If I could only have you here, for a breath or two
I would be content to release my last moments
to have just one more winter's night with you.

The morning dawn still my precious heart away
the newborn sunlight skimming my fading eyes
For a brief moment,
there was a whisper of faith that slipped into my soul
shh....quiet...then gone..
But i felt myself disregard it-
Until the door latch, the footsteps, the creaking of wood
And there you stand before me.

Something harsh beneath my heart pricks me,
a hint of an accusation touches my tongue-
but I lay still, I do not cry or scream or smile.
For i am too tired, too hurt, too forgiving to ever say
all the words you probably deserve, for you still came.
And graced me with the eyes that I so cherish and love
You sit on my bedside, and gently take my empty hand
filling it with the warmth I've yearned for all this night
And I let go...let go...let go...
eyes drift...a soul lifts...away..
For I've had this last lovely winter moment with you.

And I finally have you here, for a breath or two
So forth now content to release my last moments
Because I've spent my last winter's night with you.