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 forming.
We looked into
each other's eyes
love and I.
Under starry nights,
And prom dances.
I bought love a corsage
Love kissed me that night
for the very first time.

In college, love was a grown woman.
Full of politics,ideas and opinions.
Love stopped wearing lipstick.
And started calling men *******.
I said to love
I am a man --I think
Love took me to her bed
She said not you all 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 I.
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
Love 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 love 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 Starbuck's in Seattle
or
Watching the tree light
in Washington's square.
Or
Sunbathing on a beach in LA.

You see when love left me.
I left the door wide open.
I whispered softly.
Bye Love, thanks
for coming to see me.
Don't be a  stranger love
come back soon
I love it when you are around.