For Loretta

(For years my lady wanted a poem for her!)

I stole peace in her spacious smile …
Its wide surprise caught my eyes,
Its genius had only two destinies -
My heart and Salvation City!

Eagerly, I rode on her soft ample lips
To a special place no one else could touch …
Well Swell! Hell! Welcome to Sanity City, she said -
With only one agenda, she lit my loving torch …

No rush of drugs could start my engine
Some wanted my durable, dependable train to stall!
Everyone said I couldn’t get to anywhere
But, her valor, the exception, with a clear track, the rush …

Hallelujah!
---- But, like Romeo ----
Nothing last forever -- The Sweeping Wave
But, sweet Juliet says, “So what!

She knew I was a gamely poet, unbroken …
Besieged by an army with empty faces, at large!
Alas, yes, hallelujah! Courage I could touch -
In a simple girl that didn’t want much …

She brought me one cigarette
Then took two cancer sticks away …
Three years plus later, thank God I’m still -
Smoke free!

She gave me a push and a purpose -
So I give it gladly to you --- friends!!!
I give to you that thing which matters --
A TRUE … Texas-sized heart …

We knew Birmingham, true …
Or perhaps, these trees knew us!
Our Killeen --- Or in the Desert sand …
No Southern Hospitality here!

Heaven and Hell arose --
And both their armies too!
We knew we had to make a new start -
But, change when hunted, can be hard!

Four apartments later, warm hugs, Hey O! The joy!
We are envied by a curious and mouthy multitude --
“Come on over,” we say to all bystanders -
But, don’t intrude …

Two souls, two dreams, one path later, nirvana
Love was the much-needed turn around -
You do the math …
Legendary is this rarity we’ve found …

Today we have happy, appreciated
Though a mean war, beyond, pushes reason aside -
--- Never tried to hide from demons…
I’m just a simple man, enjoying a short ride!

Her touch, my personal perfect opera,
On her spacious fleshy song, I’ll gladly ride …
Unless a damn, big, pushy, precious wave -
Washes my unconquerable soul out to sea with a rushing tide!

Inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death” which I just saw in a movie.

The above text is copyright © ShyPoet1 AKA Jimmy L. Holder ~ 2005,
and may not be reproduced without permission.