ARDSMUIR PRISON – Margaret Arlen

WITHOUT HIS HEART

DESOLATION AND SORROW
GNAWING HUNGER
GRIEF AND RAGE
AND THE CUTTING WEIGHT
OF HIS PRISON CHAINS
HUMILIATION, DESPAIR
ALL ETCHED THERE
IN HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE

RELIEF FROM PAIN
AN ELUSIVE THING
TIL THE LABOUR IS DONE
AT THE END OF THE DAY
HE SEEKS OBLIVION
AT THE FALL OF NIGHT
WHEN HIS SOUL ROAMS FREE
SEEKING HIS WIFE

IN DREAMS SHE COMES
TO HIS STONE COLD BED
FREES HIS WRISTS
CRADLES HIS HEAD
TAKES HIM IN
GIVES HIM COMFORT
WARMS HIS ACHING BONES
WHISPERS HIS NAME
SHE BRINGS HIM HOME

THE FEEL OF HER SKIN
THE SMELL OF HER HAIR
PLEASURE IN DARKNESS
HE CALLS OUT HER NAME
IN THE COLD GREY DAWN
HE REACHES ONCE MORE
FOR THE WARMTH OF HER BODY
SUCCOUR AND GRACE
FEELS BENEATH HIM
THE STONE COLD FLOOR
CRIES LIKE A CHILD
FOR SHE WAS ONLY A DREAM
ALIVE IN THE NIGHT
NOW GONE FROM HIM

SORROW AND GRIEF
PAIN AND RAGE
THE LINES CUT DEEP
IN HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE
AND ALL THROUGH THIS DAY
HE REMEMBERS THE NIGHT
WHEN HE LAY IN THE ARMS
OF HIS BELOVED WIFE

For Jamie