Claire V. Bogdanos

Oh, foolish dreamer, you lonely child,

They gave you a hope, and you ran wild

In fields of joy and gardens of laughter,

Simple girl, you forgot what comes after

The rain of a late summer’s discontent,

However much meaningful or well meant

He will return to the world of his past,

Deserting you first, remembering last

That you held his hand through the troubled days

And you kissed his tears, through your misted gaze,

But in their flight, most men are little boys,

And gentle girls become discarded toys.

Ah, Pierrot, what pale tear doth rest upon thy cheek

And lingers there while thou hast not the tongue to speak

To quell this agony within thy breast that swells

Not either strength to leave nor voice to thy love tell?

Hence thou dost act each night a role that hath no end

To veil thy life without one lover or one friend.

T’would be the love for whom you’ve pined yet been denied

Dost sense not hour , day nor year through which thou hast cried.

Thus as this force continued on in weary grief

Thou garnered not the halting grace it must to leave.

But made thyself a servant silent to her will

And like some mindless fool forever loved her still.

There are two lying close together, sleeping side by side,

That warm sensation surging, like an elevated ride,

Pulsing, throbbing, yet they fearing nothing, all thought recede,

Caring, hoping, wanting, blending feeling with subtle need.

Awaken, turn to face each other, desire reaching out,

And touching, filling the void that compassion is about.

Put fantasy in motion while forsaking lustful pride,

One man, one woman, secret thoughts and visions to confide,

Gentle cravings, swaying, moving with manner not profaned

Between pleasure and lust, delicate balance thus contained,

Caressing with a passion not akin to tenderness

No time to doubt, or cause to labor their own happiness.

Leave, shackles of the past aside, peril lagging behind,

To defend the marvel of love that dwells not in the mind,

Like a foreign continent waiting sweet exploration,

Caution flown, let loving grow, although of short duration,

Call it lust, yet know that there is more to this emotion,

To smile, to touch, to share what may be discreet devotion.