By way of explanation for those unfamiliar with this use of the term: definition of ”purl” =

”eddy, swirl of water, crochet stitch”, as you see here

The purl of the river babbled around her
As the purl of her hand knit sweater unraveled

Similar to the unraveling her life started
Those many years ago when her life traveled

The first broke the foundation of the marriage
With the litany of his disparage

Of the the lust in his heart, which first?
When he gave in or was it the thirst??

Who is to say? It says, ”to lust in your heart is
The same sin as to commit the sin” his

I wonder, has he learned the lessson, too?
For his life turned into a zoo.

The purl in the sweater that unraveled
Was the last purl she ever raveled

She put up her yarns and needles
And traded them for bugs and Beatles.

Something she had no interest in before
As she listened to hymns, it was no chore.

Worship of the God they had sworn to speak of
For the rest of their lives, broke, the 2nd vow of love

Now he’s gone – she’s gone
And the children didn’t keep

They fell apart in their own way
One up, one down, I wonder, do They sleep?

And this last Mother’s day once more
Was spent alone, no calls, such a bore.

Unrequited sleep, despite the efforts of the second
Who tried his best me to beckon

From a sleep begun, never to be undone,
For sleep, when gotten, covers the shun.

©g.abbey
2011