VILLAINY

John Grey

Some villainy is afoot-

I have noticed that all is not the same 

with me, with you, 

though I cannot give it a name, 

I do believe within there is an enemy- 

some villainy.

Relationships are less at ease, 

creased around the edges, 

wedged between the walls 

are doubts – 

not shouts, but whisperings.

Is it true-

do you feel it?

all is not the same as used to be – 

the trappings of love are being 

replaced slowly

by lowly villainy.

I notice it in the merest things- 

the way your face turns sullen, 

dullened by the lack of ardor 

in your eyes- 

you seem harder- 

is it true? 

who is the villain,

me or you?

The tenderness we felt 

is replaced by a welt deep in my shoulder- 

is it because we are older 

in our years and in our hearts – 

this welt bleeds – 

needs are not met by all these moments 

we are choosing to forget.

Seme villainy is entrenched- 

this is not the way of all dreams, 

splitting seams, seemingly splitting,

nothing gleams any more- 

at least not to me- is this the villainy?

Does time cut into affairs,

incisions at the base, 

decisions in the face of failing fervor- 

after the end, why does it go on as if 

it’s really just begun- 

can anyone tell me? anyone?

Curse the villainy, 

curse my failure, 

curse the dangers of estrangement, 

rearrangement ‘til we’re strangers- 

saying au revoir to each other 

but still staying.

Romance ends here, 

not with a tear but with a shrug- 

a sigh- some villainy 

but no one’s going to die- 

something will live- 

we will each peer deep into our own soul and forgive.