Time Passing Like Smoke

I never saw it coming. I was shocked.
My friends insisted that they saw the signs,
But maybe I had sampled stronger wines
That left my feet numb and my vision blocked.
Not drugs — the cabinets were always locked,
I was afraid of shapes among the pines,
And nightmares haunted me. The moon that shines
Showed nothing, no birds sang, and spirits knocked.

I was aware of time passing like smoke,
I understood the pressures of romance:
The solitude allowed me one more chance
To hope for union with the dream that spoke
And weak desire. I must have had a stroke,
Because I only saw friends look askance.