Lover's Lament

The wench lay drowning, upon fluid arms
Of the vast unmoving lake
Whose true depth none knew, save the many condemned
To spend eons within its shadowy bounds
Mere puddle, though it was
To those who knew, what she did not

I embraced the water’s cruel depths
I had to, to save her,
From a death too early, in its wake
To save a life, yet unlived
I did it for I loved her

The danger passed, she was safe
For some unseen miracle saved us that day
And the water did not claim its prize

I caressed her hair, to feel her touch,
Once more
Her eyes opened to mine, an unearthly red
And I realized, the water that glistened,
Upon her face
Was not all from the lake

“Send me back to my watery bed!’ she cried
“Where I may sleep an eternity,
But not again to your arms!
This gift of new life, is all but wasted,
In a love so contrived, on a moment’s sacrifice!”

For all love’s misery, I heard her voice
That spoke yet, without sound
The words unuttered, falling lifeless,
On the ground
And I knew at last
That I was, truly alone