During the final years of marriage,
differences widened
until - without warning
he died.

Never again 
will he plague or forgive

nor will she 
unveil like Salome
in the dance of seduction.

On the ritual visit
she places an elaborate wreath
on his grave -
the sky darkens.

Frozen snowbanks line the path
like guardians of the dead.
A gust of wind blows ice across stone.
and makes her wonder,
 
Can he feel the chill?

She offers prayers   
and the pain in her knees for penance.

At home,       
she lights the fireplace
and opens a bottle of Bordeaux -
without guilt.

marion i really enjoy the weather of this poem, the strong language throughout really pops.  S4 that "the sky darkens" seems like it could go.  i like the solitary image of just her placing the wreath, for me the follow up line takes away from that scene.  i almost wonder if that hyphen is needed in S1, good drink to finish. -lawrence

marian the edit reads with a heavy effect.  i still like "without warning" i could still go either way on the hyphen, but reading it more, maybe use a coma after "until" and then again after "without warning? i do agree on that a slight pause would fit there. -lawrence

During the final years of marriage
distance widened
until, without warning,
he died.

Never again 
will he plague or forgive

nor will she 
unveil like Salome
in the dance of seduction.

On the ritual visit
she places an elaborate wreath
on his grave.

Frozen snowbanks line the path
like vigilant angels.
A gust of wind blows ice across stone
and she wonders,
 
Can he feel the cold?

She offers prayers   
and the pain in her knees as penance.

At home,       
she lights the fireplace
and opens a bottle of Bordeaux.

great piece, Marion
you give the reader just enough

Stella