Third Time’s The Charm
Betrayed the first time —
the joke is on me.
Fate hates liars
like you.
The gate swings shut.
With a clack and a clang,
the latch locks.
Spoken sorrow; soulful eyes
unaware, unraveled,
I unlatch the lock.
Tick-tock, talk and talk
until the sun sets and I say:
“You can stay.”
Hateful hearts wander
poisonous suspicions sing
a sad tune to my soul.
It only takes one text,
unguarded and unerased,
to tell me the tale —
same as last time.
The gate swings shut.
With a clack and a clang
The latch locks.
Repeated promises, heated pleas
A sucker for those
soulful eyes,
I unlatch the lock.
Again.
Tick-tock, talk and talk
until the sun touches the horizon.
My heart starts to soften and I say:
“You can stay.”
Time tells every secret.
Fool me once; shame on you.
But twice? You must think
I’m the fool.
The third time, my eyes are dry.
Love turns to hate.
I open the gate.
With a clack and a clang
the lead is loaded.
Smoke from the gun
says the story is done.
I don’t look behind as I
Latch the lock.
Tick-tock, no more talk.
