Farewell Beloved Enemy

Oh, now, the call we dread arrives,
half unexpected
and what we once thought would be comfort
causes pain
hot tears spring forth, borne of the anger and confusion
your name as always drags mixed memories
again
and in this push me pull you potpourri of innocence
and guilt so deeply sewn,
intricately intertwined
I found a hidden ember of our love
still glowing
and all the hopes and dreams I thought
I'd left behind.
next to a picture of two children scared but
smiling
she in a wedding dress, he in the tie
that binds
neither one knowing of the potholes in
their pathway
a silent testament to truth that love
is blind
sometimes it shields a vain intent
that's not so loving
sometimes it speaks false words in hope
of buying time
sometimes it breaks a spirit down to almost
nothing
leaving a path of bitter attitudes
behind.
And so the object of my dreams becomes
my enemy
with angry words and shameful actions
parting ways
sure that by putting space and time and loss
between us
we build a wall against returning to
those days
but that one call broke down the wall
and all the life we shared
came pouring down in peals of laughter
screams of pain
and in one moment I relived all that I'd
long denied
and walked that pathway with my lover
once again.
Dear enemy, if you can hear, all is forgiven
I understand and hope that you
could do the same.
The love we shared so long ago lives on in photographs
and in the hearts of these two children
who bear your name.
So rest in peace, if peace there ever be for such as us.
I cool your ashes with the torrent of my tears
that I may lay to rest my palpable uncertainty
beside the final resignation of your fears.