when you came in through the door
my heart turned into something
like nothing ever known before
My whole body melted.
A burning fire of desire
swept over the whole room.
Every little movement suddenly became
an old silent film in slow motion,
a tragedy dramatized.
Deafening silence followed a
shattering sonic boom.
But when you spoke I turned away
as if I hadn't heard a word.
Time stood still.
It became absurd.
I could not speak.
My tongue was paralyzed..
My knees turned to jelly.
My fingers turned to thumbs.
My eyes became black caverns.
Yes, my whole life...
turned...
Around and away from you.
What else could you do?
You turned away too.
Now you're gone.
Forever.
What devilish demon struck me
thus and so
depriving me of my life and forcing me to go
Throughout all eternity empty and forlorn,
a ghost ship floating with
sails all tattered and torn, no life aboard,
tall mast stark and bare,
no other ship in the night
ever passing there...
___...The frail and thin old man shook his head trying to remember something. He held up one shaky old hand for a moment then let it fall down beside him. The cool silence was broken for a moment by a faint bubbling sound. Then all was quiet again and nothing moved for ten minutes. Suddenly the wind picked up and the old houseboat began gently rocking to and fro...to and fro...to and fro....a seagull looked down and screeched as it flew low over the deck then out over the salty waters of the bayou looking for alewives.
-dale
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