The Lady Waits Alone
I left the party for only a moment
Meaning to return as quickly as I left
From the balcony the night felt ominous
Lights twinkled from the ships anchored
In the harbor below
The hostess
Drink in hand
Greeted her guests
Smiled at everyone who came
For her, her actual beauty,
Was not in itself so remarkable
That none could be compared with her
Or that no one could see her without
Being struck by it
But her presence
If you knew her
Was irresistible
The attraction of her person,
Joining with the charm of her conversation,
And the character that attended all she said or did
Was bewitching.
It was a pleasure just to touch her hand
Or to watch her walk into a room.
The party ended
Propping herself on a sofa
She watches a glimmer of light
Turn from black to misty daybreak
Eyes not moving
Face up toward the ceiling
She sleeps a calm, untroubled sleep
Down below a lone car speeds through the heart of the sleeping city
Scarcely half-past five in the morning
And the sun not yet fully up
A city begins to awaken.
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