THe Physical is What They Needed

She laughed and he adored her
She cried and he told her it would all be okay
She smiled and he loved her
She lied and he forgave her... even though it hurt
She wept and he swore he'd keep her secret safe
She died and he held her, the touch of the words 'I love you' too late...

Now, as the cold gray dawn breaks, he is alone
Kneeling in one-sided conversation with granite stone
Telling himself if only... perhaps he'd not be so lonely...

The physical is what they needed,
If only he had heeded the warning signs,
This wouldn't be the bottom line...

Lost without her there,
Nothing left to share...

The cold drear rain left to wash his blood and shame from the granite stone...
Marked already with her name.

A.J. Downey
1-19-2001