WOMAN: A Broken Valentine

by Rene Ezpeleta Bartolo
(Davao City, Philippines)

When one has loved, and loved so much,
“Goodbye� is a silly song;
But sillier still is your stranger’s touch
When I have loved so long.

When love is like a wounded bird
Afraid that it can fly,
Then love is just a spoken word
Indifferent, like a lie.

Love is not a habit, Woman,
Nor some solitaire for two;
When you make me feel less human
I know I have lost you.

No more the deep and dusky look,
The whirlpool in your eyes;
A glassy stare was all it took
To turn my blood to ice.

No more the nibbling at the ear,
No more the whispered sighs;
The childish games, the vibrant tear -
They’re empty when love dies.

No more the tender fluttering touch,
The passion in the rain;
Calling back what’s lost is such
A terrible, terrible pain.

Yes, love was strong to set things right
Over apathy and blame;
And then, you called out deep one night
Somebody else’s name.

Colder than contempt you’ve left unsaid,
Or your look that doesn’t see,
Cold are the ashes of love that’s dead:
Woman, you have lost me.