IN GRATITUDE I CRAVE YOUR FAVOR FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE.

Do not beckon to me

Do not entice me

Do not make nice to me

I cannot be with you

I must not be with you

At this time

Your beauty entices me immensely and I can almost feel your fingers

Against my cheeks. Your fingers are cool as the wind that swirls mist- like around you and your valley. Your verdant leafy places.

How I am going to enjoy being with you, no,

Not now, not now,

The babe is still young upon my lap she sits and asks for just another story

I must tell her another and another to fill up her backbone so she can stand on her feet and tell stories to others. I must tell her more than a thousand stories

She will remember me when I leave and sit in my place and yearn to see my face

And my name will flow out of her mouth wrapped in the tales I have told her.

Don’t call for me now, close the curtain and not let me see any more glimpses.

I must attend to the rest of my business,

I must continue my other sevens and sevens and sevens, I know not how many sevens I have been allotted, but I will attend them all, by your leave I will.

My roots are not withered, my branches are still strong

My head is not bowed

I can see the faces of others

My ears hear the even songs played, and my heart, it gladdens at the chords the orchestra plays; for my soul is in need of measured notes and quick -step timing and plaintive strains, the horns, the drums.

Let me be for the sake of love, if not for the sake of love, your love.

I must surrender to this side of paradise,

not yet, don’t call me yet, the press of youth is on my lap

I favor her,

Let me stay with her

Besides, I have so much more to do.

Don’t think that I am bribing you,

The temptation to be with you is palpable, it is strong

I feel the draw but I am prayerful in my request,

Don’t carry me off like a bandit,

Favor me with your breath, favor me with your love

Let me be a while longer.

In gratitude I crave your favor a while longer.

(10.5.2015)