Yes, the first poem is a real poem by Edwin Markham. Can you believe it? He's named Edwin. Ed and Winry. When I first read this poem, it reminded me a lot about the two, and thus this fanfiction. Excuse my poor poetry skills in Winry's response. This fanfiction doesn't make very much sense in my opinion, either, but it's up here in case anyone likes it, I guess.
-------------
"He drew a circle that shut me out
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout
But love and I had the wit to win;
We drew a circle that took him in.
- Edwin Markham."
Winry blinked a bit, taken aback at this familiar story, despite the fact that she had been assigned the analysis of it for homework. As it was she had fallen asleep through English class and been stuck with the last poem, despite her relief at its four line length.
The rain drops outside her window seemed to enjoy the company of the seventeen year old, wide eyes widened and scanning the words, as if searching for an explanation.
"He drew a circle that shut me out."
Circle. Transmutation circle. Ed left her for alchemy and doing so shut her out. And it was his alone, and too sacred for the likes of herself.
"Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout."
People like Scar would disagree with what Edward was doing, but he continued to do to with a stead fast determination and will, covering up any emotions. And had he not rebelled against death itself? He did not spare her the details, so she would stick with that conclusion.
"But love and I had the wit to win;"
She would prevail, find a moderate way to force him to acknowledge her, did it not mean?
Winry drew her eyes along the last line, fitting together the words along her thought's jaded string of logic.
"We drew a circle that took him in."
She took him in when he had no one left and became his family, creating that bond with an arm and leg to brand him and hold him to herself. It was her claim, sort of like an alchemy formula itself.
That is, if love had another to do with alchemy.
And with her pencil the Poem Response Sheet had become a letter, a quick jotting of her own poem as a reply, the weather as her silent witness.
"You may have left with a coarse and fake smile
And it's hard to wait for such a long while
But carry the circle I gave, and see;
How you'll walk with the strength of both you and both me."
And the red circling on a 'B+' was awarded in the margin a week prior that day,
despite the format of her words.
The blond headed State Alchemist let out a yawn from the doorframe, sending a look of inquiry at the gleaming teen. "What, get another proposal from Ling or something?"
She shook her head, rising from her work desk to pull the cream curtains over the window in an attempt block the shadows cast from the sunset's boasts. "Nothing of the sort, Ed."
Though passing him, she added, "But thanks."
"For what?"
"Inspiration." With her back to him, she merely smiled and allowed him to ponder, sharing the distress of waiting, if only for an instant.
Because in another instant she could be alone once more.
So to make up for that moment she placed a small, butterfly kiss on his cheek, before offering a teasing smile and making way back along the hallway.
And a second later he was following her with a stuttering retorts of, "WHAT WAS THAT FOR!"
Some things never did change, in spite of her attempts.