The price I pay

After Ezekiel 24:15-24

He tells me what

I will suffer, the loss

of the woman

who stands beside me,

and worse, I must

not mourn her

with others but

hide my face, mourn

her in secret, my voice

buried in my turban

in the corner of my room.

And no one can hear

my silent sobs.

I will never touch

her face,

I will never feel

her beside me,

at night,

I will never break

bread with her

again

so the people will know

what they will suffer.

My heart is torn

at the price I pay,

the price I never sought

but accepted.

Photograph by George Hodan via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.