Strauss

It was on your 30th birthday
when watching the Viennese
Johann Strauss orchestra
that I realised it was over.
When you reached for my hand
for the first time my fingertips
did not tingle,
when you kissed my cheek
I wanted to wipe it away.

"This is it," I thought
and realised that that night
I would be sleeping in the spare room
or at a friends.
In a few days my belongings
would be packed up in boxes
in your front room.

You had been so excited
when I bought the tickets.
"My favourite composer!"
you screeched, then touched my cheek,
"you remembered."

I wondered when I would tell you.
When you came back from the foyer
I looked at your face
and violins started to play.