"Young wife"

by Lianne Olive Hennig

Longing for you, wanting you so near... 
Are you working on the road today, love?
Love, I wish you were here.

Memories of last night embrace me.
Practicalities will chase me
While I lie abed and ponder
Ways to make your heart grow fonder.

Housework makes me rise from bed
Thinking of the things you said
And, while my hair I gently brush,
The things you did will make me blush
And feel again your loving form,
Caressing me to make me warm.

Around the house I drift in dream...
With loving thoughts my mind does teem,
Till finally chores begin to press
My averse soul to clean the mess;
Imagining, as I graze my knees,
The sensual man I want to please.

My day is long and hard with work
As I do things I’d tried to shirk –
Still thinking, with such joyful glee,
Of praise within your eyes for me.

I do not stop for very long –
My heart, full-bursting with a song,
Is pleading words to make you see
The veritable good that is in me.

To the clock, with a passing glance, I look
And settle at the stove to cook
You up a nourishing tea –
All planned, compiled and made by me.

An engine peters in the drive –
Within my heart hope springs alive!

I do not rush unto your side.
I wait to bear your praise with pride,
And yet you do not come to me -
Housework done, you do not see.

You do not even bring a kiss
To bring alive remembered bliss.
When you come, you snap and scowl.
It makes my temper muddy, foul.

I snap back with my bristling pride,
And all the while I cry inside -
Come love and hug, and fondle me.
This altercation should not be.

Yet, with feeling, still we fight –
Dragging on into the night.

My outer face reveals so cold,
Yet my inner heart is warm
And, all the while, I wish to hold
Your silken form.

My mind and body stay separate,
Though, with time my mind grows weak.
My body moves to stop the flow
Of vengeance I would wreak.

I berth my body against yours.
No kiss is e’er so sweet
As when it’s mixed with tears of love
That make a sore heart beat.