A Hint of a Tear

(Eleven days to submit my thesis, and instead of writing about PLC programs I ended up writing this poem. Some people are plain incorrigible I guess.)

He breathed twice, long and deep,
And forcing a smile onto his face,
Climbed stairs that never before seemed steep.
His mind was swimming in space,
But he managed to knock on the door.

She chuckled as she recognized
That characteristic double knock;
But she was quite surprised
When she opened the door and took stock,
For in spite of his smile he looked troubled.

Idle conversation did no consolation lend,
So he said the words he’d come to say;
He thanked her for being such a good friend -
The past few years, in his heart would ever stay,
But it was time for him to return to his homeland.

She stood rooted to the spot;
Her throat went dry, her heart nearly stopped.
But her expression betrayed her not,
And she looked merely concerned as they talked,
About the days that would never come back.

He relaxed in her company, as always.
He searched for some hint, some sign,
In her words, her face,
Oh! That face so divine…
Please just ask me to stay…

She did her best to make him feel at ease,
She wanted him to leave with fond memories;
But, she thought, just say the words, please,
Say you love me, say it, please,
And I will be with you forever…

He couldn’t bring himself to say it;
He would say nothing that could bring her grief.
Her concerned smile was like a beacon lit,
Strange: she the stalwart pillar, he the fragile leaf.
And as he bade goodbye to his best friend,
He imagined that he saw
The hint of a tear in her eye.