I Lived Alone in a Tower
Navaris Darson

For many years, I lived alone in a tower
and day after day, I counted the stones
wishing on stars I could not touch
for a wandering prince
to call from below
and ask me to let down my locks
so that he might climb and take me away
but year after year, no prince ever came

Then suddenly, in a moment,
there was you
neither prince nor king,
but a lonely poet 
wishing on those same stars,
still out of reach
for something to inspire you—
a muse from above

I waited and waited for you
to say words that never came,
but for one night, we stood naked
in our desire
and together, we counted
the lights in the heavens
and one by one, star by star,
we felt a little less alone

Then you disappeared
in the middle of the night
as quickly as you arrived,
carrying the stars away on your back
and leaving only the stones to count—
a mean trick!

Many starless nights passed
until you returned—
just as unexpectedly—
you, poet turned sorcerer!
with the stars trailing behind you,
and I—in folly or optimism—
forgave your sorcery 

This time you stay, but only at night;
I look for you during the day
hoping you will call for me
to let down my hair,
strand by strand and braid by braid
but I wait and I wait and I wait and I wait
and you never ever ask

November 16, 2019