Destroyed Slowly

There is always an obliteration of what once was
it’s a paradox, a conundrum about initiated efforts
that came to naught, just a gape mouth
stance, wondering what it was all about

It started so early, even at the beginning
he knew it but hid it in the recess of his mind

the labour of patching up leaking roofs
could have been much easier
than stopping the mouth that rants
fouling up all efforts that taxed much

soothing words and compromises
professing eternal devotion, adoration

how was it that the gleam of sullenness
the inaudible impatience were missed
before the day the rings were placed lovingly
on fingers and thus bonded two souls

he wanted to always drown in her loving eyes
willing her to swim in the peace of his thoughts

he didn’t see the eyes that scoured
the hallway for familiar faces
of lovers, casual or otherwise
he drank in her sparkling eyes and smiling lips

lending her strength, taking her up in his arms
as she floundered though her self-loathing

he was there and not really anywhere
standing on a pool of light
that he hoped would illuminate her
in her circling to take flight

she wished to fly away and be lost
yet wanted his arms to weigh her down

the implosion of hued emotions
was nigh complete, he held her tight,
in his mind and in his heart…
frightened and vaguely desperate

resenting him for impeding her flight  
yet deep inside, adoring him with all her heart

the decaying matter on his boot
was rapidly spreading, it wouldn't stop
he wondered what it was all about
but he knew he was being destroyed

…slowly.