David SmithWhite (270552 / Australia)

I should have told her, I would mould her,
a precious jewel, a treasured prize.
I would have told her, if I'd been bolder,
she holds my favour, in her eyes.
I should have told her, I was a changeling,
a gentle spirit, a raging fiend.
I could have told her, it was a strange thing:
a sudden mania, that goes unseen.

She was a wild card, played on the decks of life.
She fled safe harbours, meeting storm and strife.
In the tempest, our affair was brief,
but it soon took hold of me, underneath.
One crystal tear-drop, upon my shoulder,
one moistened eye, one clouded view.
One love divided, two lives blighted,
no heart beats colder, than a cowards' do.

I should have told her, I was a soldier,
and I was fighting, secret wars.
I could have told her, and so consoled her,
to enfold her, in my cause.
I should have told her, I was much older,
sorely sacrificed, and sadly cruelled.
I could have told her, and so controlled her,
in my mad vendetta, against the world.

I should have told her, I bought and sold her,
to involve her, in my crimes.
I should have told her, at least not scold her,
so born to martyrdom, every time.
I should have told her, how I soldered her
to the main spring, of my revenge.
I should have held her, and so welded her
to the clock-work purpose, of my exploding ends.

I should have told her, I was a murderer,
who killed his lover, without reproof.
I should have told her, my love would smoulder,
till that fateful day, she'd see the truth.
One crystal tear-drop, upon my shoulder.
One moistened eye, one clouded view.
One love divided, two lives blighted,
no heart beats colder, than a cowards' do.