Finally Free

Finally Free

He sits on the bench, cupcake in his hands,
His slate blue eyes, dream of far off lands.
It’s a special day, but he celebrates alone,
Remembers her, how she left him on his own.

On this day each year, he thinks of her,
The tears come unbidden, his eyes they blur.
Their parting embrace, last words so absurd,
He’d said, “I Love You”, but the words were unheard.

Now, forty years later, it’s a day of thanks,
No regrets, his heartstrings no longer yanked.
He’s free of his unrequited love and desire,
His feelings no longer trapped in a quagmire.

But that day came a letter in the postal mail,
The words he read made his heart wail.
“Stewart, I’m afraid of getting old, so alone.
I’m sure you think my heart’s made of stone.”

He smiled as he read it, for she was right,
His love returned quickly, his heart felt a fright.
What right did she have, to write after all these years?
Once again he felt his eyes flood over with tears.

He read further, and saw that she wanted to meet,
Not far from his house, in fact down the street.
He thought of his life, and all that he’d gained,
Slowly walked away, his heart no longer chained.

Jim Dorrell
8/1/12