As in the past, I’ve proved myself 

Unable to enjoy 

That which I’ve picked 

And hoped for us, alone.

This time together we would sit 

With apple perched upon a plate 

Sly secret smiles before we ate 

Partaking each our share ’tween sips of wine.

I needed you along with me 

To revel in the purity of skin 

That’s crisp, fresh juicy flesh 

Beneath the shine.

For days and weeks in apple’s stead 

I plied my plate with simple bread. 

Nothing more sustained my wait but 

Hints of dearly savored tastes

From meager fantasies of me 

In fuller future states.

Still, on the table 

Down the stem

Around the core 

And at its end

The apple shrank

Succumbing to a withering within.

Unable to endure the wait 

Unable to preserve the blush 

Beset by bits of mold and wrinkled lines 

Our apple fell to dullness destined 

To replace in time its shine as well as 

Long held dreams of mine.

From the book Two Spirits Here

Louise is one of several editors for Filtered Through Time (Fall 2012), an anthology of works about the effects of the Civil War compiled by S. R. Lee. She is currently writing Canine Complaints, a humorous and philosophical take on the musings of her animal companion, Arthur Todd. You can reach Louise at TwoSpiritsHere@aol.com.

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