Atlantic Crossing, A Pantoum Poem

I crossed the Atlantic to marry a man,
I chose to love so dearly, that I knew
I would gladly give up my life,
if it would enable his to be spared.

I chose to love so dearly, that I knew:
Yes, our haste was crazy.     And yet,
if it would enable his to be spared…
I was willing to do almost… no, everything.

Yes, our haste was crazy and yet
time seemed to blissfully slow around us.
I was willing to do almost… no, everything…
It was summer, summer’s supposed to be light…breezy.

Time seemed to blissfully slow around us.
A fairy tale world…yes…built without foundations.
It was summer. Summer’s supposed to be light…breezy.
…a passport, his, ripped asunder my dream.

A fairy tale world…yes… built without foundations…
Sand castles…will… all dissolve in a flow of salty tears.
A passport, his, ripped asunder my dream.
Once read, no words could be said.

Sand castles will all dissolve in a flow of salty tears.
How could I have been so… so… so…
Once read, no words could be said.
Today’s my wedding day. I won’t be at the church.

How could I have been so… so… so…
I would gladly give up my life.
Today’s my wedding day. I won’t be at the church.
I crossed the Atlantic to marry a man.

© M. Anita Bailey