“Old Dan Barrington” by SE Still

Old Dan Barrington never married.
Struck by enlightenment, a glimpse,
he'd looked into his young beloved's sweet, warm
eyes, gentle smile just for him
and was reduced to tears
in a split, second look
into the future: marbled icy glare
with fuming furrowed brows become -
an ex-wife.
Now, Old Dan's seared, lonely soul mutters
through the years, "but what was in between?"