Tradeoff
By Don Tennant, II
 

 

 The ground grew black as new moon tar;
My lonely eyes through windows ajar,
Gazed lazily at sky and star
    This very fateful night,
When from my window ever far
Above the ground, I watched a star
Descending through the trees that bar
    The vestiges of light.
 
  The passing light was fair but fleet;
The shooting star brought thoughts so sweet
Of love long lost yet full of heat
    Within my cloistered mind;
The locks and bolts then fell like sleet
From frozen thoughts that now would cheat
My pseudo-peace, and any feat
    Is worth the joy I'd find.
 
  While pondering what the symbol meant,
I sensed a faint familiar scent-
Intrigued, my head I duly bent
    To try to pierce the gloom;
The blackness bleak revealed a rent-
For through the black my angel went;
I see now Death my angel sent
    To lead me to my doom.
 
  Her figure flowed in silken lace
That brushed her skin, caressed her face;
Her white gown's shadows left a trace
    That matched her jet-black hair;
She walked a metered, steady pace
As she traversed that awful space,
And ever closer to my place--
    A jail without her there.
   
  And yet for every step she took
She offered hope, but length forsook--
For though my dear my gaze could hook,
    She never drew more near;
My room became less room than nook:
A pawn was I against a rook--
Upon her face I had to look,
    Her whistling whispers hear.
   
  I feared that she would leave my sight
And disappear into the night,
So from that room I made my flight
    Along the surest way--
And from the window's lofty height
I plunged; I know this fleet delight
Will last eternally and quite
    Be worth the price I pay.
 


Originally Posted October 18, 2001. Reposted on February 3, 2005.
Copyright 2005, 2001 by the Labyrinth and the United States Naval Academy, http://www.usna.edu. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or duplication is strictly prohibited. The views expressed on this site are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Naval Academy, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.