WHISTLING IN THE DARK

Whistling in the Dark

I whistled for you in the dark because that was our sign

That and the tiny candle spark between your house and mine

For many years from childhood's dawn till present day and now

That whistle brought my love to me without me ever knowing how.

At midnight by the hollow tree by full moon's yellow rising

You'd meet me there and pull my hair and I'd laugh at your surprising

We'd whisper all our secrets then and tell the day's events

And share our hearts and minds and souls till the velvet night was spent.

Those souvenirs from carnivals, those roses from the garden

We'd fight like silly kids sometimes, then beg one another's pardon

My brother didn't like your brother, my grandpa hated yours

But you and I were peas in a pod, of that much we were sure.

A boy and girl born in the world and trying not to grow

Like other people that we knew and didn't want to know

We promised oaths and swore on notes signed with two drops of blood

That till we died we'd guard and guide forever if we could.

Those crazy, hazy summer days down by the fishing hole

I'd sneak and meet you afternoons, carrying my pole

Sometimes we'd fish but oft as not, we'd take off in the woods

Exploring trees and birds and bees but always being good.

When evening'd come, I'd run back home and face my mother's wrath

And cry my phony little cry while behind my hand I'd laugh

And after supper, I'd go to bed to pretend to read my book

Then whistle for you in the dark and meet you by the brook.

One night I met you just like always though we never had a plan

And on that night with second sight I saw you as a man

And you saw me with silken hair and dewy eyes that shone

With love for you forever true, for you and you alone.

We didn't understand the change, we didn't know just how

But the little boy and girl were gone and sweethearts were we now

And in the midnights we would meet, for the days had lost their charms

My whistle in the dark would bring you running to my arms.

Such teen-aged angst we suffered through, such hellish longing pain

In snow and sleet we two would meet, in moonlight and in rain

Those sweet, long years we carried on, our secret safe, we thought

Then came the day, fate looked our way and in the lantern's glow, were caught.

My brother beat you half to death, or at least it seemed to me

Your grandpa dragged you by the arm but you smiled at me so bravely

We couldn't make them understand, we couldn't make them feel

The love we shared, still innocent, was nonetheless, so real.

For weeks, we saw not one sad glance pass 'tween your eyes and mine

So closely did they watch us then, we dared not give our sign

Then I couldn't stand it anymore, I didn't want to live

Without your lips there on my hair, I had nothing left to give.

I crept out in the still of night while the household was asleep

But I couldn't whistle one note because all I could do was weep

Then I felt your arms around me and your trembling lips on mine

And the desperation made our determination grow bold with the lost time.

We ran away that night together, we ran so far away

We ran till nights and days passed into other nights and days

And all our days were spent together, all our lives were spent

And now I sit alone and wonder where all that sweet time went.

You didn't mean to leave me here, you didn't mean to go

You kissed me like you always did and then you turned to show

That little grin you always gave me and said you'd be back soon

But your spirit left that worn out body and went sailing past the moon.

Past the sun and Milky Way, the planets out in space

Up to Heaven and left me here remembering your face

Remembering our childhood days, our teen-aged rebel nights

I look for you at every turn but you are not in sight.

I'm going back to my old hometown to see what I can see

My folks are gone and I'm alone and no one remembers me

I'm going to the fishing hole, I'm going to the brook

I'm going to my old bedroom full of dusty unread books.

And now here I sit on the window seat in the old home place once more

The threadbare curtains blowing back in my room on the second floor

I light a candle for a moment and wave it, throwing spark

And all night I cry, telling you goodbye and whistling in the dark.

©by Voo

December 7, 2004 10 p.m.