John Roche - Mercury Drops

The mercury drops
and ice forms on words
perched on the tip
of his apologetic tongue

Words that needed to be spoken in spring
stuck now, in the winter of their time together
with no chance of thaw
their impact now would be too little, too late

He struggles to break the glacial silence
wondering still, at how the temperature dropped so suddenly
not realizing it takes two sticks
rubbing together constantly,
to create the sparks needed for fire,
which keeps the cold at bay

For too long, she has been a stick alone
trying to create sparks enough for both,
now spent and broken
she lies in the snow and ash
of all their yesterdays

John Roche

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mercury-drops/