At last

This has been some time in coming...but most good things require a fermentation period...

Remains

You smiled.
Chatter and coffee
flowed easily; a
golden light danced in your eyes.

The gentle
drone, whisper, allure,
warmth, drew me in to
my death like a siren's call.

Assurances!
...false, but given,
mounted my ramparts,
barricades, over night dissipated.

But nothing
for the surrender--
white flag soiled, pain-wrought
silence. Conquered, then deserted.

Destroyed,
I stumbled to
find my feet, confused, void,
promise-bereft and faded,

solitary
once again: cacoon
shriveled, doubts dauntingly
doubled, hope my greatest folly!

And why?
Like Alexander,
must you conquer, continue?
Is it courage, fear, disgust...cowardice?

No matter:
the cold remains;
my rampart stands, staked,
ironed, moated, sealed, caged, broken, barred, in flames.