It was not your presence, <br />rather its absence <br />felt; <br />when in the theater <br />whispering to you <br />how good the play was <br />you, <br />snapped shut, like a mussel, <br /> <br />leaning away. <br />No good actor like they upon the stage, <br />you could not feign <br />nor mask your feelings enough <br />to even laugh. <br /> <br />Rather, looking for a que, <br />forget your lines <br />as your voice dropped… <br />and out dribbled <br />the terrible silence <br />of your act of love that flopped. <br /> <br />Reaching for your hand, <br />five fingers scampering away <br />into your pocket <br />like a crab to its shell, <br />I was speechless, forgot my lines. <br /> <br />And there we sat, <br />two sad mimes, <br />staring at our play <br />of life, <br />both, standing in the wings, <br />with bit parts and nothing to say. <br /> <br />ACT II <br /> <br />In bed, a kiss <br />neither wet, nor passionate, <br />no tongue, nor lips… <br />we pecked, like birds <br />at the hard shell <br />of our roles cast in marriage. <br /> <br />Your caress; <br />not the grip of one <br />holding dear for her life, <br />but rather of letting go; <br />more formality than bliss <br />in the absence, of which, <br /> <br />Either lip, eye or finger <br />or the sensuality of taste, sight or touch <br />could not prop up a lie, <br />even a gentle white one <br />to pretend, act or defy <br /> <br />this final act… <br />of our death scene, <br />with heads bowed, <br />and without applause, <br />I drew the curtain, <br />bowed, said goodnight, <br />and turned the house lights out.<br /><br />John Tansey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/marriage-a-tragedy-in-two-acts/
