it was not many years ago that he
was here upon this shore a newlywed;
with all anticipation thereunto
awaiting him within their hotel bed

but selfishness and cruelty have an end:
that those that suffer it, won’t always stay —
he, the inflicter, knows no guilt, no shame,
but knows that he’s lost something on the way

another sunset means another day,
but is no time to puzzle or reflect;
the blame is hers if she just bolted off,
and so he sits, and never will reflect

that any fault in his life is his own,
or that he merely reaps
what he has sown