Two prior promises

Lay claim before

The nuptial vow

And relegate my love

To lesser realms.

The agony -

The clamouring cries

For health and comfort

Drag me from my love -

Madame Hippocrates.

The dying souls of men

Compel salvation's rescue

In the deep of night.

I pledged I would not leave them

For an hour with you.

So much apart

And yet together, to fulfil

These doubled-storied vows

Enslaving me to men,

And not to you.

To Margaret

December 1976