he loves she
she loves he not

all the hope in him cannot undo
pain of unrequited love come true
to feel as full yet unfulfilled
by this woman he oft thrilled
whose tender gaze still melts his heart
though she chose that they must part
and neither of them knows quite why

he loves she
she loves he not

each seeks the same but only one has found
his other-self, a love profound
they laugh and cry, caress and sigh
and all he wants to know is why
to him so right to her not quite
to spend her life with him at night
yet neither can explain

he love she
she loves he not

it matters not how hard he tries
he's passed the mark, she'd not deny
but what he wants cannot contend
with that which she cannot defend
it's something small that's just not there
ethereal, as thin as air
though neither likely to do better

he needs she
she needs he not