Birds' feet

The candle's flame a yellow flicker
Into her lap his head descended
The sky ablaze but fading, quickly
Before his eyes her features blended

"My hero," then she whispered to him
Her saddened smile was but a blur
He tried to talk, to move his limbs
She put her hand where his lips were

"Hush, my love, don't speak," she said
With teary eyes, "don't fear
The world outside erased by night
But you and I are here"

Came then his final breaths, "I love you
More than one man could
But, there is one thing--"
                             "I know--"
                             "I wish I understood

"My memories are fading now
Or were they ever there?
The time we've had is clear as day--"
She stroked his brow and hair

"Who am I, won't you say, my love?
And tell me, who are you?
I know it's strange; I don't recall
But now I wish I knew"

A paling vision only
Her smiling face above
He felt her tears on his own skin
A touch of misty love

"My man," she said, "you do forget
How quickly it must end
This time together, me and you
We don't have much to spend

"This is all a dream, you see
And now we've reached its eve
Though you may be again with me
It's time for me to leave"

The flame was gone, his body still
Then from the void he stirred
A bird's feet on the windowsill
Was the next thing he heard