The house by the river

Laurel was her name
Lived in the tumbledown house 
Down by the river

Don't know why I smiled
That day in the marketplace
Her deep dark eyes spoke

Of a loneliness
A pause before she smiled back
And that was the start

We talked for a while 
Then argued about a date
But was invited home

Her son lived with her
Saw his father at weekends
That's when she saw me

She was generous
But as poor as church mouse
I made her happy

And then she told me
They fought over custody
As I kissed her neck

Away interstate
I didn't see her for weeks
Then found she had gone

Her house deserted
The walls creaked but made no sense
But had a sad look

I sat out the back
The river told me nothing
But it never does

Image found at https://comicvine.gamespot.com