lead astray

you asked for a sign of commitment
“visible for all?” I enquired, for you were
never accustomed to wearing jewelry...
I pondered for two months
and then one day in all innocence
you mentioned a ring and I knew
that ten years was the time it took you
to acquire the desire to show the world...

and on an evening of complete surprise
you opened a small box, having been lead astray
as to its probable contents
with quiet jocular interruptions
every time you broached the subject
a simple silver band, a bit too massive
with a small thin arc cut from the metal
housing a tiny diamond, an optimistic
sparkling for our future
and as I watched you slip it onto your finger
tears glistened in your eyes, improbable,
but such a sign of true contentment



lead astray
[2007.2.9...a]