What Now? Poem by moon batchelder

i lived - to love -
and loving life did live
it proud - as wife -
yet prouder still to give

love - him unto -
who thought to own it least.
alone - tho, now -
his beauty to my beast

a shroud - upon -
the life still love bound to.
nor sound - of him -
to join my laughter to.

nor sight - of him -
delight unto my eyes.
nor touch - of him -
his lust on breast and thighs.

but lest - complaint -
be all my mind must bare,
no stain - of sin -
requite this love, so rare;

but pain - as broad -
as pleasure both we'd known.
odd treasure - still -
with nothing else to own.

no smell - of him -
to summons passion's thrall.
no thought - of him -
if not to cast a pall

my soul - unto -
whole treason seems, to live
one season - more -
without him, love, to give.