Switched Off

I am aware you're standing there

I've seen that look before

You seem confused by what we have

You wish for something more

Before we married, you were hot

Someone I had to win

I couldn't chance to put you off

And have to start again

I filled my role for years and years

Taking care of mother

Those time you came from far away

I loved you like no other

For those two months, once every year

We gave ourselves to play

You broke the boredom of my life

In such a lovely way

We gave ourselves to every whim

After mom was cared for

The empty spot you filled helped make

The next ten months less chore

For all this time, you came to me

You've really been so sweet

Half 'round the earth those seven years

No distance could defeat

And when she died, you helped me mend

You offered me support

And helped me leave this all behind

To a far distant port

In our past time, we talked about

When we could live together

For more than just a month or two

And watch the change of weather

I knew that I had married well

The honeymoon divine

But then the urge began to wane

"It's not your fault, it's mine"

I do not feel the driving need

To play our games at all

You're much too close for far too long

Made my desire stall

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

So that old saying goes

It's plain to see, it's true for me

Though why nobody knows

When you were gone, I couldn't wait

'Til you were back again

But now that there's not space between

I'm feeling quite hemmed in

It's strange to know too close, for me

Would change the way I feel

Because I'm not the promised goal

You think that I'm a heel

Our marriage gave me entree here

That's all I really needed

And there were signs it would go wrong

That largely went unheeded

We had our words, too bad for you

Your problem is not mine

It's yours to do or not to do

Whichever, I'll be fine

Richard Higley © Feb 9 2013