The heart hurts with a pain deep,

But the voice dares not to speak.

Why does not the maid weep?

What does she keep?

Tested by time to carry on,

She did not like being the pawn.

But the game was played,

There she was bound to not stray.

The fates demanded the maid to be bold,

She mustered all energy of faith to hold,

And so the record was told.

No voice had she to object,

She took up her shield and sword to protect,

All else she reject.

Year after year came the ebb and flow of change,

Yet the war remained.

The toll have been made,

She has no more aces or spades,

The maid abandoned her sword.

Only the shield stood behind,

She did not mind.

Now the wounds do mend

by others who attend.

Time undoes all does come.

The maid stood unbent as it went.

Shield in hand and old running thoughts

Of ifs and oughts.

Demand tears does the fears,

But such sacrifice feels not right.

Hope that dangles on a string

She cannot bring.

The pain still stings.