Lily’s Lament

My old friend Lily was in her sixties.
She sat next to a wishing well and could see
her reflection in the dark water.
She let her hand drift through the coolness as she spoke to me.
“I was in love once. I believe I was.
There was a man at my dance class who used to
hold me and smile.
All the others were very serious but he used to make it fun.
I never went out with him of course.
He was to easily lead by other women.
Still I loved him in my own way.
I have a photograph of us together doing the waltz.
He was such a good dancer no wonder the girls flocked around him.
I often wake up in the middle of the night and I feel sad.
Sad because all forms of love come to an end.
Oh I know we never held hands and starred into the moonlight for hours.
I know we never got married or lived together but I still loved him.
I carry an image in my mind of him dancing.
That’s love isn’t it?”
All I could say was “Yes it is darling.”