The Longest Day Poem by Josephine Dunn

The longest day is over.

You left - with tears
In your eyes, saying,
“I love you, ”
Because you could not give me,
'What I need'.

I saw your heart breaking -
Why break mine?

Why destroy things
That frighten you?

Why deny your love –
And mine?

You claim your love is
“Desperate” –
Why not love with joy?
Why not live
In joy.

Carry love with you -
Like a butterfly
Fluttering in your breast,
Yet free as the wind,
Warm as the sun.

Why not whisper your love
Like the breeze in the trees,
Moving me softly
With gentle endearments
Of affection.

Instead you bury your love,
In dungeons dark and deep,
Fearful that in giving it,
You will lose
What you desire to keep.

Know thee nothing of love?
That it is given to you
To share -
With the world.

Know thee not that love
Is sung by the dawn birds,
Hummed by the bees,
Echoed in the calls
Of playing children.

Know thee not that my fragile heart
Aches from morn till night,
With such need to give
My love to THEE.

Oh! Why wait till your leaving
To cry, “I love you, ”
And weep
Tears of sorrow and regret.

Will you not learn
To cry tears of joy -
And open your heart
To give and receive love?

26th June 2007 - revised 22nd February 2009