She kept a running total,

The tallies on her leg,

Of every day she missed him,

And every night she prayed

For his quick arrival

With the coming of the dawn,

But each morning when she lifts the sheets

Her hopefulness is gone.

So she drove past those old memories

And saw what she held dear,

The pulling heartstrings of her want

Demanding he be here.

But there is nothing she can say,

She chokes on spoken words

And watches dreams flying away

Like south-bound summer birds.