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THE TRUE SONG COMES

by W. Mahlon Purdin

People love a love song and they always have.
Imagine a young woman, sifting through
Her memories of failed love and sadness
Who meets a man who seems to be perfect
But she knows he's not. She wants him to be
And marries him and lives with him
For years and years, always hoping, but never
Really happy because reality is never
What we want it to be. In her last days she
Knows that she has lived longer with this man
Than her parents, than her daughters, than any friend.
He has been her companion of a lifetime.
Did she ever really love him?
Was he just a category filled in the album of life?
She sees him there across the room and wonders
Do I really know him? Does he really know me?
Even after all the years there is no clarity.
Even as she closes her eyes, one last time,
She does not know.
Her last vision is his face, eyes awash with tears.
His hand on hers holding tight as she goes.
Her last thought: Who am I?
All the years simmer down to questions.
All the moments leave us uncertain.
Never comes that moment of revelation,
Except in loving with no conditions.
Once we love like that, answers are not needed.
It's then that the true song comes.

04/22/2008

Posted on 04/23/2008
Copyright © 2026 W. Mahlon Purdin

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 04/23/08 at 05:08 AM

Some really strong imagery in this. I think that has a lot to do with the way you tell the story. It's got a really good short story feel to it.

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