He'd planned it
months before.
A special surprise
for the woman
he had loved
for forty three years.
A band of whitest gold
(he'd checked the size)
set with his mother's ruby stone.
He was pleased with the card
two dogs embracing
- she'd like that -
and tender words of love
penned from his romantic soul.
And then...
that fateful night
when she knelt before him
eyes downcast
heart hammering
stammering...
I'm so sorry.
He hurled the ring at her feet
and stormed out
of her life.
Years later
they buried her
with the ruby ring still shining on her finger
Alison Cassidy
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/with-this-ring-3/