Heartland

and as the captain 
retreated to his chambers 
the sun, with it's dying breath, 
bathed the creaking ship 
in an amber-orange glow 
as she set sail, 
past the point of no return. 
and a soul, found itself, haunted 
by bitter-sweet memories 
of yesterday, of home 
of her, standing there… 
above the marbled cliffs 
her flowery dress, billowing nervously, 
playful, in the late autumn winds
as she held each corner, tight 
along with the countless goodbyes 
the velvet kisses, 
that blessed him so 
 
cursed 
with a cowardly heart 
and yet, he knew 
her key would always 
remain, pristine 
resolute 
to this door, 
of unspoken promises 
keeping them safe 
beneath his placid exterior 
that lay, cross ways
over his heart, a heart 
that betrayed him 
far too often 
with deafening beats, 
while lingering thoughts of her 
occupied 
that place of delicate daydreams 
spread out in front of him 
like the open sea, 
gleaming 


for hope 
has always remained on the horizon 
even 
among the fading voices 
of sirens, 
as he tied the knots 
of windblown sails, 
to its mast, bound 
for the heavens it seemed. 
as he wondered 
if she would still be there, 
when he returned 
standing there 
on the ivory cliffs 
waiting 
as always, 
he wished he knew 
the strength of her patience, true 
 
God knows, he needs her 
wants her, breathes her 
like the salty air 
that dwells within his very lungs 
but words, those cursed words 
failed him, more than once, 
and as always 
he took solace 
in their childhood memories, 
the smell of golden peaches 
from her Grannie's orchard 
where games of innocence 
lay quietly, held on so dearly 
to its latent core 
like the memories 
sealed 
in a never ending story 
 
and as a smile 
ran out into the open spaces 
where seagulls roam, 
he knew how blessed 
he was, 
still…..