The Other Shore

I lost him, I lost him,
and it were as if he died
and a large part of my young
heart went with him - I have
never got it back, the lack
is with me still, the first piece
the first piece that went with him
and I realise now
it was the first of many -
all these years later I am
old and what is left of my
heart, after all the pieces
gone after all those who left,
is paltry, thin, a barely
beating thing

but the first piece - the most
important because precious,
unsullied, young
went with him
my first love
my first love who
left me stranded on the
rocks as his boat sailed
over the water - I wonder
if he looked back at me
my broken-hearted face

and did he hold the piece of me
in his hand
when he reached the other shore

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