A Eulogy Upon The Death Of Romance Poem by Barry Van Asten

They said falling in love would be painless -
Some numb beast in the brain,
Distorting dimensions of dreaming
To dull the senses of pain!

A whirlwind romance, they called it,
But the heart is deplorable now;
Love sought a serenade of perfection,
More than the heart would allow!

They said love's just pure emotion;
A tissue of tournament tears,
Devoid of intellect - love is
A carousel of shameful fears;

A torturous sadness of longing -
The heart hangs heavy with time;
An enchantment of song was left muted
To wither away in its prime.

A dreadful departure of passion;
A vacuum void of cold kisses;
The perfumed pretence of not knowing
Why this arena of soft caresses

Remained flowerless, diminished,
With sweet words blunt and dull;
The dim rush of longing sensation
Was heart-breakingly beautiful!

Sunlight was always my cradle
And moonlight was always my bed:
Romance went out with the old year -
Romance is decidedly dead!