Shelf Life

Well, as he slept upon her lap
she took it as a sign her life
was less a dream and more a nap
that only promised longer nights
and muffled steps
She fumbled for the words
to pray the banister to give
It only gave us quite a stir--
have you forgotten where you live?

Letters on the way won’t send her
(A face, up and down,
is a lot to remember)
She once set a place in the center
(It tempted the ground
to collect what it lent her)

And soon you’ll see that time is not
a willing hand to seek to wed
You hear they’ve set the dowry high
She’s laughing at you from the bed
you climbed only to find yourself alone
She paces round,
you tell her, "Dear
I took a lover, not a guard"
(but she is not
allowed to hear)

One night, I dreamt I heard you say
that love is not an end to meet
(too quick to catch a roaming eye,
too slow to set it down to sleep)

And now, you swore you’d never call his name
but still, he’s waiting on the stairs!
A suitor’s welcome, all the same--
you know it better than you share