the greyhound tavern

it was a december night
filled
with the oddest fog

you emerged from the north
a battle weary soldier
of the old guard

sword gleaming
white horse mounted

taking my arm

we drank till the bartenders
pockets were full of gold pieces

sang for each other in irish tongues

laughed into a plume of romeo y julieta
smoke

danced with bushmills bottles in hand

lifted hems and rolled up sleeves

your hard diamond cuff links and my dripping pearls

ignoring the rolling thunder

i asked the questions
we had come together for

you answered me
with unending love

no apologies made for lightning strikes
we were a magnificent storm

now we exist in that night
forever
as a love poem