When Love Walks In.

When Love Walks In 

By

Jude Kyrie

Even when I was a little boy
in grade school.
I knew what love looked like.
She wore glasses
and had two long pigtails
I carried her books everywhere.
She treated me
like her puppy at home.

In high School
I met love again.
Love was more like a woman now.
But still a little girl inside.
Her softness was just forming.
We looked into
each other's eyes
love and I.
Under starry nights
and prom dances.
I bought love a corsage
for her wrist.
Love kissed me
for the first time that night.

In college,
 love was now a grown woman
Full of ideas and opinions.
Love stopped wearing lipstick and bras
And started calling men assholes.
I said to love I am a man --I think.
Love took me to her bed
She said not you the others.
And then left me for another guy.

After college.
I married love she was different
She wanted to build a nest.
Where we could raise a family.
We had three kids love and Me.
And I got left behind somehow.
I became the father of loves children.
And loves husband and breadwinner.
A bunch of labels.
Love stopped
seeing me as a man.
I nearly died of loneliness.

After the divorce
I was forty-five.
I found love again.
She was older and wiser
and did not fall for
the cries of men easily.
She took no wooden nickels.
But I loved her.
Love said we do ok for retreads.
I told love she was beautiful
Even when her eyes were red
From crying of her lost love.
Then she wept
perhaps once too often.
And love left me.

It's been awhile since love left.
But I know she is out there somewhere.
sipping coffee in Starbucks in Seattle
or
Watching the Christmas tree light
in Washington's square.
Or
Sunbathing on Venice beach in LA.

You see when love left me.
I left the door open wide.
I whispered softly.

Bye for now, Love.
Thanks for coming to see me.
Don't be a  stranger love
come back soon.
I love it when you are around.