Before there were three there were
Two. A chain-link fence love,
A tight heart love; their mother almost managed

To remove courtroom from playroom,
The servants impermanent. She
Was with them, when she could be, was referee, mother, confidant.

And they themselves were as close as a shared confidence,
Once, or so their mother said.

Don’t you remember? Once Goneril would not let anyone
But herself touch you. But that time was lost, even within
Their mother’s own lifetime. Now their looks turned dark

With jealousy and suspicion,
If their heart was a shared one they fought
Bitterly for the custody of it. In each small victory, something more was lost.