The Midnight Mirror

“The Midnight Mirror”
 
You have shed tears in front of me,
And the tears you thought none could see:
I longed to kiss them from your eyes
I know you don’t want to hear it: But everybody cries.
And time has passed since we did not say goodbye—
I woke today before the sun could die
And I did not know if I was strong enough to weep
When I knew you would be waiting within my sleep.
 
Midnight comes at unusual hours
With all her sweets and all her sours.
Stars in the mirror. I want the natural affection,
But maybe all I want is to see your reflection
Staring back at me where my eyes should be.
I’m not as afraid, but I do not know who I am
And I do not know if I can
Learn such a thing without you to look in the glass
But miles away, you sleep in another midnight, alas.
 
Can I wait for you all my life long?
I cannot imagine the years which passed
Before I ever heard your song
But I do not feel that life may last
A moment since you have gone
I cannot see the air or breathe the hours.
Though now the tears have withdrawn—
It was they that watered the flowers
Little flowers that for you I brought
Though in loving you, you loved me not.
 
I will wake no more before the sunrise,
I’m too afraid to open my eyes
To another day, another day without you
So now I waken in the midnight blue.
Do you forgive me for not wanting to cry,
For we never, ever said goodbye?
Midnight comes at an unusual hour
I will lay a single, red, red flower
Watered by that last unseen tear
As I look for pieces of you in the midnight mirror.
 
© 2022 Marten Hoyle