Hiatus

Since Time, who took my straggling steps
and set them to your pace
has swept you now beyond may sphere
remote from me in space,

I
between two unit worlds have lingered
strangely free
suspended
midst recurring hours in thoughts infinity.
Because you share no moment
in this dread, re-entrant day,
he does not mount my shoulders bowed
to fling its hours away.
Hence, I leave a fissured void between us
when I go,
though pressing on my heart is pain
desire will never know.
Ere falls the trembling pendulum
I cast the Play anew—
a smaller, meager semblance
sans the part Time took from you,
and gather life's odd pieces
for the morrow world to tread,
tying the raggedness together
with each dragging, broken thread.
With this . . . nothingness, I seal the past.
The hours that bore here, and left me
now will sweep me on
forever from you, dear.
Love still would keep me near you, but
Time! Ah, chafing wretch!
like some monster man
watching relentless arms astretch
see my shapeless thought is spent
dissolves my exiled land.
A makeshift world
Without, awaits
the beckon
of my hand . . .

—I. M. L.