Among the First Casualties
by Michael Doyle

Among the first casualties of war
Is the promise that love will live on
And if something goes wrong, lovers will love more
The white heat of passion burns until it's gone

A touch, a line, a singular trace
A lingering memory wished to embrace
Nuzzled in the comfort of memory
Until there is no more love left to be

But that was borne in heart and in mind
Reflections of hope that are left behind
Though a wounded heart cannot forget
And that is perhaps the worst regret

Lovers pretend that all will be okay
Though the void lingers to judgment day
How could the promises be forgotten
And something so pure, discarded becoming rotten

Then from that day that love disappears
At least on the surface and repeated in fears
A mustache won't hide these kinds of scars
That leave broken hearts fallen with the stars

(c) May 14, 2022   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved