David Policar 1997
On her kerchief, the card that she touches
Shows the future that she'd most desired:
Upside down, the duke sad-eyed and tired,
Nearby, back turned and frowning, the duchess;
A familiar card long use has faded.
From a small well-worn book comes its tale:
Love abandoned, vows broken, betrayal;
Reversed: old wounds healed, new vows traded.
The next card, that future's creation:
A single sword, raised at attention,
And the book reads: mutual intention,
Shared thoughts and speech, communication.
She frowns, shuffles, deals. She is patient,
And the path of a seeker is endless.
In the next room, her husband sleeps, restless.
Between them the silence is ancient.