The Aftershock

I pause here, cold reflection giving way
To protestations of a common sort:
I sought your favour as I sought a port
In hard weather. I was prepared to pay
The price you set for safety, any day
Or night you chose to succour me, for sport,
For love, for fear, or merely holding court
As Queen of the Aftershock, as in a play.

But now the play is over; a new game
Begins. The shock is, that the game began.
The aftershock is starlight, terror, blame,
And explanations. As an honest man,
I told the truth when giving you my name,
But never claimed I had some sort of plan.

Our Hearts, part 8