A Wives Tale

(Inspired by Robert Brownings "My Last Duchess" and "Porphyria's Lover")

He only loved for the emotional thrill.

Pleasure and knowing her love was his.

He'd see her flash a smile toward passerbys.

Jealously fuelled his rage, her beauty was his to admire.

Her smile his to adore through troubled storms.

No man must see her for what she is.

Such beautiful hair circled her face, a simple twist of a hand and spin of the body, her locks of gold took her life.

He smiled, holding her as if she was a baby, treasuring her beauteous features.

He only loved for the emotional thrill.

Pleasure and knowing her love was his.

He'd see her flash a smile toward passerbys.

Jealously fuelled his rage, her beauty was his to admire.

Her smile his to adore through troubled storms.

No man must see her for what she is.

Such beautiful hair circled her face, a simple twist of a hand and spin of the body, her locks of gold took her life.

He smiled, holding her as if she was a baby, treasuring her beauteous features.

As he slept, she returned to him in a dream.

"Fair love, once mustn't sin. A simple smile is nothing but kindness. Your obsession killed me now my memory shall take your life."

A jolt of light flashed, waking the man.

He looked beside him only to see his wife, gray hair and bones below the sheets.

Her beauty was no longer his.

Her head slowly turned, winking as her boney hand wrapped around his mouth.

Not a scream nor a breath emerged.

She fell still, smiling that kind smile as he collapsed next to her, his eyes glued closed, never to see beauty, only darkness.

As he slept, she returned to him in a dream.

"Fair love, once mustn't sin. A simple smile is nothing but kindness. Your obsession killed me now my memory shall take your life."

A jolt of light flashed, waking the man.

He looked beside him only to see his wife, gray hair and bones below the sheets.

Her beauty was no longer his.

Her head slowly turned, winking as her boney hand wrapped around his mouth.

Not a scream nor a breath emerged.

She fell still, smiling that kind smile as he collapsed next to her, his eyes glued closed, never to see beauty, only darkness.

Smile Through the Worst

Walking through hell with a smile makes you burn so much brighter.

Thoughts of regrets,
hopelessly can hold you prisoner

behind the walls of flames.
Forced to relive every questionable

moment, torture can feel freeing.
I do's in empty churches with

fingers crossed, affairs behind
the alter. Thrills of never

being caught. Thrills of making
everyone feel worthless to

give you a shot of confidence.
Too many decisions with empty

consequences. Too many tries
to be happy the hard way.

Don't you wish we could live
guilt free? Just once, not be left

with lingering wonders.
But life wouldn't be alive

without mistakes. Life wouldn't
be worth living without

lessons that needed to be learned.
Life wouldn't be life if we didn't live.