Midnight Thoughts (vol.2) | Poetry

The Unspoken Distance - Old English

Each day doth pass anon,
a shadow creeping ever near,
and I findeth mine trust in thee
doth wither as leaves in autumn's chill,
silent and unseen,
a thread unravelled e'er too oft.

Perchance I sensed it long ere now,
yet knew not what sorrow took root.
Once did I lay bare mine soul to thee—
all fragile dreams, all hopes most tender—
yet now thou art strange to mine sight,
a ghost clad in familiar guise.

Still I speak,
for habit clingeth like dust
upon each corner of mine words,
yet bitterness doth linger there,
sweetness turned sour,
and silence echoeth louder than afore.

There wast a time,
the hardest season,
when I walked 'neath darkened skies alone—
a love lost, a scar too deep for words,
and when at last I braved to bare mine heart,
thy voice cut sharp as winter’s edge,
thy judgment cold beyond bearing—
"Ne’er did I favor him," thou saidst,
as if fault wert mine
for loving thus.

Did I seek thy counsel?
Nay, I think not.
Perchance therein lies our plight—
thou speakst too freely,
whilst I hold mine tongue,
the weight of words unsaid
pressing ‘twixt us.

I dost remember,
when younger we were,
I dwelt apart,
and yet gave thee of mine attention,
though 'twas ne’er enough.
Thou spake of jealousy,
of envy most bitter,
as thy world did crumble,
and I, blindly, did give.

Now hath the wheel turned.
Thou dost flutter amidst the throng,
a social butterfly 'mongst many faces,
whilst I abide in silence,
no friends, no mirth,
but an empty quiet I keepeth close.

I speak not of days past,
of when thou madest me feel small,
when mine innocent words met but thy complaints,
when mine light dimmed ‘neath thy shadows.
Now, I leave thee unread,
no answer, no word.
For now,
I care not
what thou dost.
And ne’er needed I
thy counsel on how
to live mine days.