A Winter's tale

I first thought of making The Winter's Tale into a short story. It could almost be the basic for a novel. How many lifetimes does a writer have? Instead it became a poem.

The poem was first published in The Small Press Times, then I published it in my short story and poetry anthology, The Japanese Grandmother. 

A WINTER’S TALE  

They met in the rain

Outside the coffee shop.

He had come from visiting

his newborn son.

She was on her way

to collect her daughter

from ballet lessons. 

 They were together in Paris.

He had an offer

Of a top job in London.

            She had to return

to this antipodean city

where her mother was dying. 

He saw her to the airport.

She promised to return

but her mother

took a long time dying. 

He took her arm

And led her

into a coffee shop

across the way.

He ordered coffee

holding her hand

as he caressed the rings

another man had placed there. 

Silently she cried as

he kissed her cold fingers

With lips wet from the rain. 

She gave him a last anguished look

Before rushing into the rain. 

At his feet was the cup

She had knocked from the table.

Broken in two. 

Picking up the chit

He went to the check out.

They added

the price of the cup

to his bill. 

He picked up the change

And went into the rain. 

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Miss Emma Napier helps her friend, Abby, escape from an unwelcome marriage. She meets Lord Desborough who is looking for a temporary wife. He thinks Emma could be the perfect choice.