and then there were four

to him she said
winter began
and ended
soft conversations
that fell around
my feet
when you left
leaving me tied
to the space
where we once stood.

to the other she sighed
stolen summer days
sweet like
luscious ripe mangoes
tasted and devoured
i held my own
you held my breath
as i gently
slipped away
memories of polished
skin carrying me home.

the rains came hard
and with them brought
her old love
sullen yet benign
raging by day
calm by night
she extricated
her demons
he embraced her pain
as the mountains
watched unmoved.

by spring
her love grew reckless
and light
she smoothed
his long hair
and laughed
into his beard
she surrendered
to his whim
her poet and artist
her new will
to live.