NEXT TIME

Once I thought

That next time

There would be no pain for you.

We would take in deep draughts

Of our very own togetherness

And spend more time

To savor each moment

And rise fulfilled

And unhurried.

I thought we had

The rest of our lives

To learn

How to please each other.

I thought the years

Stretched out ahead of us.

I thought our passion

Was nothing

But the very beginning

And the end was too far away

To know.

But we were destined

To be lovers truly

For just one fiery summer’s evening  –

Fleeting minutes of ecstasy

Underpinned by adoration,

And, of course, our love.

Damned even though

We thought

We had shattered

All the barriers

In front of us;

Doomed even though

We knew so well

That we were made

For each other –

Different but devoted.