THE WALK ON THE PIER


On a hot summer day
A breeze coming from the bay
They walked onto the pier
Looking out to the City and the Bridge

Romance and love in their hearts
Youth filled with hopes and passion
The realities of life not known yet
A bottle of wine, cheese and loaf of bread

The conversation filled with laughter
Her smile filled his heart
Her hair golden shining in the noon sun
Her blues eyes spoke of innocence

They knew in a few hours he would be gone
Back to Germany so very far away
They spoke of love and dreams of their future
They parted that night, tears in her eyes

A long time passed between them
When he returned, the world had changed
He didn�t look the same, youth had been taken from him
The child and innocence had vanished

Thoughts were hidden, where everything had been shared before
She had no way of knowing or understanding
Memories buried deep inside as not to be touched
She began to run from him

Not knowing what might lie beneath the silence
Their directions and dreams had changed
Now so different they did not see love anymore
The pain and sorrow they felt would not soothed by one another

He still holds the memories and the pain
Finding it hard to trust again
Not even certain of trusting himself
There is hope in his heart and sometimes tears

Michael V Hechtman Copyright � 2001