We started like most new lovers do on a journey of passion
Me...hoping it would last forever never dreaming it might end
Making love with one another was magical, blissful
Strong, yet sweet with tenderness
Such ecstasy and passion we shared, like none I'd ever known

Romance novels didn't compare to our story
You said I was your goddess, your life's blood...
So right, we were, we seemed to be so in sync
Our hearts beat as one in a passionate syncopated tune
I remember how we fit so perfectly - like two puzzle pieces

We met at an intimate café in Madera, a small quaint city in Italy
I was lazily sipping chinoto and eating pizza napolentana
I was so happy and excited - it was my first time abroad
You, on the other hand...had lived there all your life
A true Italian uomo, 'un uomo molto interessante"
which means, "He was a very interesting man"

I looked up and there you were- sitting at a small table across the room
Your gaze met mine as we smiled simultaneously at one another...
We left together

I was feeling quite lightheaded from it all
To my surprise, you took me to meet your relations
a group of robust, happy, family members, gathered together for a partito- which is Italian for party
It was kisses and flowers- we fell in love...so I thought
But I was wrong, something happened

Then suddenly...
You were gone - into the arms of another
leaving me with a sad, forgotten bud of love, of you and me
And...
wishing you were standing where you used to be

Last night I watched in silence
At the end of the road in forest deep
I hid amongst the trees watching in awe
As gypsies dance while others sleep
Under the violet hue of evening sky
Haloed by evening's golden moon

I watched gypsies dance and sing
As flames from bonfires leaped high in the air
Dark haired women in shawls and beads
Happily dancing and twirling without care
Casting their spells of magic and enchantment
Performing their honeyed seductions
Blended with aphrodisiacs of scent and sound

Gypsy men with kerchiefs around their necks
Hoops of silver adorning their ears, singing joyful songs
Children laughing, dogs barking
As if they’re singing right along
Oh, I so wanted to join them as I stood watching in awe
Envious was I of their freedom and joy

Caravans painted in bright images and colors
Tambourines jingling as velvet shadows danced in the night
Skirts swirling, gold and silver bangles on their arms
Dancing 'round the bonfire's fiery light
Accordions singing, with happy notes from a fiddler's bow
As they sang and danced barefoot under evening moon

In the coming dawn once again...
It will be time for them to pack and move on
With a last meal served...
The caravans are readied to make another journey long

"Gather yourself up gypsy girls
Wonderful as it may seem…
A gypsies’ life is never their own
Time to move on
Time to find another home
You must have gypsy blood
In order to survive"

As their wagons move along dusty trails
They'll be looking for a place to camp
A place to call home... at least for awhile
A place to hang their colored paper lamps
Until...
Suddenly- a cry rings out

"Stop the wagons, ring the bells
We've found the perfect place
The perfect place for magic spells
Tomorrow brings a brand new day!
Let's feast, dance and make merry
Come on let's get things underway"

And so...
The journey goes on
And never ends!

"Gather yourself up gypsy girls
Wonderful as it may seem…
A gypsies’ life is never their own
Time to move on, time to leave
Time to find another home
You must have gypsy blood
In order to survive"

Mary Rose, the mighty sailing sea vessel glided majestically across the waves
She had robustly and bravely sailed the briny waves for many a night and day
With the ocean's heaving gusting squalls blowing off proud stern and mast
Sailing victorious and proud - her billowing white sails were cast
The calm, liquid waters of the sea flowed quietly purple for now-
Unaware of the coming storm that would beat furious against her bow

Her alabaster sails whipped violent and furious in the oncoming storm
Impending doom was yelling its cries while the ****** went unwarned
Down below, inside their cabins the ****** peacefully slept
Wrapped in the secure watch that their gallant captain kept
The oceans black, boiling waves beat savage against starboard and port
As Captain Noe standing fearless - at first quake, did not the storm report

The old wooden beams of the Mary Rose began to restlessly moan and creak
While the blackened roaring, rolling waves beat furious against her feet
Her alabaster sails rose proud- beating mighty against wailing squalls and gusts
While deep inside the bow in bunks, the sleeping ****** ******

Suddenly...they heard the captain's distraught voice cry out
When the ****** heard his voice -they heard fear without doubt
“Awake, all of ye’ ”,   Captain Noe forcefully roared
“Alive! Awake… all ye’ ****** come quickly up on board”!

The savage spirit of the sea reigned fierce with rage and fear
While the brave captain fought - loyal ****** brought up the rear
They courageously fought together - not silenced by the eye of death
As the sea raged violently against them with its brutal, menacing breath

To save their mighty Mary Rose, they’d dip their very souls in blood
Leaving themselves merciless against this drunken, mighty flood
With plank and bow standing fierce between them and their fate
The raging ocean’s fierce, blackened waves - the sea they could not hate

The morning brought the warming sun which rose broad above the waves
The winds had tamed their violent voice against captain and ****** brave
With unshakable courage and ******’s wit not once were spirits broke
Each cheered his mate and captain strong as they fought with steady stroke
Their peril fought in days of danger and night filled with pain
Their manly courage did not wane - their fight was not in vain
For all the courageous ****** and their brave Captain Noe
Joined together in hand and spirit to save...their proud Mary Rose

Like a skein of softly woven silk...
She moves silently across ocean waves
Exquisite in her ethereal beuty
Dancing effortlessly across moonlit bay

Her soul knows no boundaries
As it moves silently in the night
Her beauty in midnight glowing
Like a bird soaring in graceful flight

Gliding in misty moonlight
In a gleaming white moon blaze
Her face glowing among the stars
She glides elegantly amongst the waves

Her heart cries to the ******
Bereft, longing to be found
In the misty ebullient sea
In which her poor body drowned

The whales sing her lonely song
Their cries ring strangely thru' the night
Their voices sing without words
Grieving of Sara's rueful plight

Sara's voice cries out in vain
Hertears salty- with ocean air
Crying out in quiet depths
Endlessly in her despair

Glimmering and vast is the sea
The tide rages full- the moon shines bright
As this sad maiden cries out in despair
In the darkness of the lonely night...
Her sorrowful notes of sadness -
Linger eternal ...in the ocean air

I caught a glimpse of you…when you didn’t know I was looking. Trying to re-discover what I’d forgotten about you. About us. Why I’d once loved you - in that other time.

You were standing naked in front of the mirror, your beautiful, auburn hair glistening on your wet, mortal body. You’d just stepped out of your morning shower-humming the customary tune you do so well.

I stood quietly in the hall, watching you shave your golden, red beard while you hummed, as you tapped the rhythm with your foot.

It was intoxicating- observing your routine without you knowing I was there. I’d watched your morning ritual many times. You…always aware when I was watching. In the past…in that other time.

Somehow...watching you with my heart, more than with my eyes made me melancholy missing those feelings I’d once felt for you…for us. Feelings that were once so deep within my heart. For awhile- back then - in the days of us.

Did we ever really love one another? Was it kismet - was it fate?
The question sits on unspoken lips. I sighed -missing us-missing you.

When our melody began, you sang the notes to my heart so well…so tender and real. We soared on the music, our mouths relishing the kiss. In our moments - in our past.

For a time we were us - you and me - me and you. We traced our love with thirsty lips - hungry bodies.

I stood there looking at you for quite some time, pausing at the door before I left... knowing I might never open that door again.
I turned back once more, before turning to go... making sure to remember just why I was leaving.

I believed and held on to everything that was once promised. Everything that could have been. Now there is a big empty space. A void of nothingness -devoid of you.
The yellow and white wedding dress hangs lonely and dusty in the bedroom closet...
just barely a relic, with the shoes I would have worn, shyly peeking out of the corner.
How long as it been now? A handful of years?
All smattered with lukewarm memories...
barely remembering the sound of your steady breath, your softly hummed tunes.

In between moments I try to forget the wisps of floating memories.
I think I'm doing well, but every once in awhile in between those painful moments of sadness and regret... and perhaps even a few tears.
I realize it was really for the best. I've healed. Maybe...just maybe?  Maybe...sometime soon?

I had to let go of that dream...because I realized, you and it ...
were just a fable. Once upon a time is now, a Forgotten Fairytale.
But now…every time I see a man shaving, I sadly find myself thinking of you.
Goodbye my love- a part of me will always love you.