she

Will She Come?

all evening he waited
anxiously eyeing the clock
retracing his steps
over and over
counting the minutes
until her arrival

kneeling before a crackling fire

adding another log
he rose to check again
his preparations for tonight

the thick sheepskin rug
lay lovingly spread before the flames
waiting for her

the book
the one she longed after
in that tiny shop downtown
rested on the warm stone hearth
waiting for her

the wine
that special bottle
from a few years ago
late fall harvest

sat open

and sweet

waiting for her

the glasses
his best crystal

sat sparkling in the firelight

waiting for her

his hand

stopped a moment

over his heart

and lovingly fingered

the prize there

hidden away in his pocket

where it lay

waiting for her

taking the ring

from its secret placehe

gazed at it

mesmerized by its shine

by what it stood forsoon he smiled and

softly slipped it back

to its repose

where it lay

waiting for her

seating himself back on the chair

he resumed his vigil

over the fire

over the wine

over the clock

over himself

and he sat

quiet and lost in thought

waiting for her