The crunch of leaves beneath my feet
reminded me of her.
She was sixteen
and my Queen of Hearts.

Beneath that very tree
occurred a memorable alchemy
when I married the moon in her,
and she the sun in me.

That night, her lunar light
lit up my darkness, as the solar light
in me, entered, merged,
and illumined hers.

We danced circles
round our mandala of expanding love.
And then, the lights dimmed.
The lovers' moon and sun

sadly eclipsed
The crunching leaves
beneath my feet reminded me of her,
and I weep.

c.Douglas Fireman