ribbon (pegasus)

On the day that I first saw you
You wore a ribbon in your hair
I don't recall what day it was
I don't remember where
Perhaps we were outside of time
When I saw you smiling there

You were electric and alive
Our talk ablaze, then earth, then flight
Gazed across into our mirror
Courageous shadows and pure light
You clawed tattoos inside my heart
And we were lovers late that night

On the morning that I awoke
And realised you weren't there
I told myself it was my choice
I pretended not to care
You didn't leave an explanation
Just the ribbon from your hair

I put it in my typewriter
And wrote amazing songs
My poems made me famous
My novels loved and long
My stories spoke of the nature of truth
And dazzled smitten throngs

On the evening when I saw through
A man with a successful career
Everything rang out hollow
Everything smelled of my fear
I could talk, and I talked and I talked and I talked
But my heart was not living, not near, not here

My love has been waiting
For me to learn and unlearn
To throw shadow and light
To be earthen and burn
Forsake telling for doing
And at long last return

I now know I'm nothing
Without something to share
So I search for you darling
I trust my soul is still there
The one with my mirror
With a ribbon in her hair