The Face Of A Man Poem by Rachel Birbeck

When I first saw your face,
Compassionate, knowing, audacious.
Filled my eyes with moons and stars and love poured out.

To be beside you, stolen breath and longing nights we spent our love to the penny,
no thought spared for tomorrow
Impecunious left standing we faced the dreaded fate,
that he nor I were made to be a loving husband or wife.

Now seeing a face I no longer recognise
those stars and moons cut like diamond
and what poured was not love but blood and sorrow.
Because besides me now I see a man who I hurt as he did hurt me.
A battle not won no war is over.

The face of a man who gave me the world, space and all of its features.
Blinded by a love that hurt me and cut me and left me bleeding in places.