THE WEEPING WILLOW TREE

 

 

Like the star-crossed lovers,
Romeo and Juliet,
They come from feuding kin
And must hide their love

From those closest to them,
So they meet in secret
Beside the quiet lake
At their secret place

To share a clandestine love

Where the only sounds,
Are of the faintest breeze
Disturbing the lofty tree tops
A gentle lapping of water

Against the bank

And ducks squabbling on the lake
But despite the quiet
They are fearful of discovery
As they embrace hidden from view
Beneath a weeping willow tree,
Its leafy pendulous branches
Trail down into the water
Where, stirred by the gentle breeze
They dip in an out of the water
Like the toes of a reluctant bather.
Despite their fear, the lovers

Kiss in the quiet shade
And feel at once renewed
No words are spoken
Their language is of caress and kiss
Such a tender converse
With limitless vocabulary
And languid pronunciation
Every syllable well employed
And when the final paragraph is reached
They end with perfect punctuation
And bask in its afterglow

Until they must once again stir

From their lovers languor
And sadly tread separate paths
To re-join their warring tribes
Adopting adversarial manners
No knowing looks to be exchanged
No casual brushing past
When for an exquisite moment
A hand might touch a hand
They must remain entrenched
With their warring clans

Until they can once again
Embrace beneath the weeping willow tree