Soul Parting

Darkness waxed slowly
And the two men shook hands;
One destined for old, familiar climes
The other for foreign lands.
Both smiled self consciously at the physical ritual,
The solid clasp of flesh on flesh,
A sweet yet bitter pill.
Then they turned and walked away,
Back to back across the plain,
To the rhythm of thier hearts lament
That they would never meet again.