When the Heart was Heavy with Hurt

she came down through the woods, and into the meadows and over to the seaside
when the heart was heavy with hurt

an ancient sadness swallowed her up
when the heart was heavy with hurt

propelled by the midnight glow that illuminates the oceans of the world
when the heart was heavy with hurt

she was standing over the cliffs with a wine bottle in hand
when the heart was heavy with hurt

clenching an arrow in her wooden teeth
when the heart was heavy with hurt

beckoning towards the jagged rocks that met the ocean waves like charging armies
when the heart was heavy with hurt

calling in whisper the name of Luther, her lost love in the fire
when the heart was heavy with hurt

and as before, no word came, no telegraph, code or missive
when the heart was heavy with hurt

even the darkness of night swallowed her image
when the heart was heavy with hurt

and still nothing like a smoke signal or a bottle rocket appeared in the sky
when the heart was heavy with hurt

the rain ran down her naked body like ants swarming
when the heart has heavy with hurt

she warmed to the memory of his hand in hers
when the heart has heavy with hurt

when once they sat on the porch swing that belonged to her great Uncle Thaddeous
when the heart was heavy with hurt

he proposed marriage, after feuding long with her father for consent
when the heart was heavy with hurt

foam mist from the violent water exploded upward like great blasts of anger
when the heart was heavy with hurt

she waited all through the war as men of power waged their campaigns of blood
when the heart was heavy with hurt

it grew darker and the storm waged around her and inside her
when the heart was heavy with hurt

she imagined somewhere across the world his bones lay in a German Graveyard
when the heart was heavy with hurt

she drank the rest of the wine straight from the bottle
when the heart was heavy with hurt

she tossed it over the cliff and watched the bottle disappear in wonder
when the heart was heavy with hurt

back at the house a rain soaked stranger, in a green overcoat, knocked at the door
when the heart was heavy with hurt

with outstretched arms she held the arrow in both hands
when the heart was heavy with hurt

the stranger seemed crestfallen to find the house alone and empty
when the heart was heavy with hurt

the tip of the arrow was pulled directly toward her chest
when the heart was heavy with hurt

he wore many colorful medals on his coat and a patch that read “Luther”
when the heart was heavy with hurt

the force of the push drove the point deep into her chest
when the heart was heavy with hurt

and the blood softly spurted
when the heart was heavy with hurt

a clap of thunder and sharp lightning strike ignited the land
when the heart was heavy with hurt

he turned suddenly, thinking her heard the faint cry of a women’s voice
when the heart was heavy with hurt

she feel from the cliff in a slow motion, like a song bird lifting off in flight
when the heart was heavy with hurt

the man in the green overcoat sat down at the kitchen table and waited
when the heart was heavy with hurt.