Tonight, We Will Be Together

Each day, I tend the sacred flames;
but the ritual no longer holds much meaning for me.
I burn only for him;
think only of him.
(my beloved Leander)
I whisper his name in smoke,
an incantation of longing and desire;
offering my blood in hopes that Aphrodite
will smile upon our secret; protect our fragile love.

Our eyes meet in the temple-
silent promises passing between us.
Furtively we touch fingers,
'Tonight' he whispers,
and my heart fills with a quiet joy,
my mind racing with anticipation.

My lover swims in the darkness,
across the vast Hellespont.
(muscles rippling powerfully,
I blush to think of what lies ahead)
I stand at the top of my tower,
awaiting him-
my lamp his beacon.
I watch for him,
filled with a longing so deep;
I feel it must consume me.

When he climbs onto shore,
I race down to meet him,
and we fall together onto the sand...
breathless, laughing.
The gentle winds move restlessly over us,
as we love each other
under the watchful skies;
whispering words of devotion.
Content, we lay entangled
until the pale light of Eos
finds us, painting us with delicate shades of blue.
Our parting is painful,
we cling to one another
until the crimson disk of the sun
begins to ascend over the waters.
'Tonight, my love,' he says;
kissing my tears away.
'We will be together again tonight.'

By day, unable to express our love;
we are filled with yearning;
we talk quietly by the temple doors
when no one is paying us any heed.
Together, by night-
we are complete...
loving and talking,
unmindful of broken vows
and fickle divinity.
Our love is strong,
we proclaim to one another.
No god can keep us apart;
We will last forever in each other's arms.

A night comes when the four winds
are no longer gentle;
they tear at my skirts, and whip my hair into my eyes.
I stand watch upon the steps,
a cold rain pelting me; lightning streaking the skies above.
I fear for my love's safety, as the waters churn far below.

Thunder rolls out over the choppy sea,
and for a moment, just a moment...I believe that I can see him.
I call out his name, and pray that he be delivered safely into my arms.
There comes a sudden gust; and my torch is extinguished.
Anguished, I fall to my knees...screaming his name, over and over,
and the winds tear his name away from me.

Out of my mind with worry, tears coursing down my face....I wait and watch,
praying and cursing; always searching for my Leander.
The storm passes, replaced by a grey, chill dawn.
I know in my heart what has come to pass, before I open my eyes to see.
We were forbidden to each other, and by disobeying, incurred the wrath of the goddess.

I look at the calm water...and my love, lifeless, floating below.
'I cannot live without you' I cry, wretched, broken hearted.
Throwing myself off the edge, I close my eyes and see his face...
full of warmth and love. My Leander. My true love.
I hear a whisper from beyond the veil as I fall to join him in oblivion....

'We will be together again, my love.'