Lou J. Klaiber

BESIDE THE FIRE

Certain darkness
… and midnight dreams

gunfire
and a silver thread
dancing
upon the edge of the Moon

The wind
bending itself
into a quiet breeze

Soldiers lying asleep
among the branches of the heart

Side by side
in weariness

Eyes closing

embers glowing

youth and fire.

The nightbird’s song
is warm and strong

a final kiss

of love forgotten

… and nights of fire
so long ago

Never a promise
of dawn.

Never ever.