Vigil

She stood there
In the doorway
Wrapped in the solitude of her thoughts
All alone-
A picture of sadness, sorrow and sacrifice.
There she stood
In the doorway
Waiting for her Lord;
He was somewhere else
beyond the bourne of her dreams
Beyond the reach of her thoughts
For he had some promises to fulfil;
That night
He was virtually lost
Though much against his will.
And she? - devoted and steadfast
Hoping still
kept a weary vigil
Though night was dark and chill.
Midst the streaming peals of laughter
Frolic, fun and jollity of rioters
Throbs of her aching heart were drowned
While she stood there
Quite oblivious of the noisy world swirling around
One by one the lights in the streets went out
In the vast azure dome of night, one by one
The shimmering nodding stars went out;
And she stood there
On tiptoe
Peering into the dark fathomless night,
But alas! he was not to return home that night.
At last, tired and worn-out
By weary waiting and watching
She slumped there on the threshold
And the night passed by.

When the rift of dawn
Gently stroked her dream-dipped eyes
And she turned her face eastward
To do obeisance to the Lord of light
What did she behold?
First a dark speck
Then a blurred image of a man
Moving nearer and nearer
Where she stood, in a prayerful attitude
Twirling the wet pleat of her sari
Around her tremulous fingers.
Precariously perched on the verge of nervous commotion.
Lo! the advancing figure staggered
And fell at her tender feet
Dishevelled, broken and utterly shattered
A picture of remorse and reckless dissipation.
And She? - the blooming Bride, with feminine grace
Stooped in reverance
And stretched her arms to enfold
him in her forgiving embrace.

(my dad used to do that too, my mom wasn't so forgiving. i'm not so sure i'll be the one to break the cycle)