124. brown eyes
taking in the golden autumn sunshine
passing time, just quietly browsing
through my own thoughts
at the weekend market,
then you were there –
brown eyes
and all else vanished;
a veil of silent secrets fell
and there was only you and I.
your husband’s gaze averted,
your children chattering,
self absorbed,
& my own dear wife, oblivious,
as we two stood and gazed
& it was given that
hand in hand
as we dissolved into the crowd
it could be no other way.
We left those broken hearts
and shredded lives without a backward glance,
not unkindly,
but without a choice and never a doubt.