Take Five

Take Five

Take a look at this letter.

It came in the mail yesterday.

The handwriting looks a bit shaky?

Why, after all these years, would she write to me now?

She says she’s sorry for leaving like she did.

I just don’t understand, why now?

It’s been nearly forty years.

What can I do for her the way things are?

What does she want from me?

Take these strings you’ve woven into my heart.

You were like a spider-woman in your

knee-high boots of blackened leather.

Late last night, I roamed among my memories:

How you were the life of the party

and said to me, “Dance closer to me. Closer. Closer still.”

and we kissed. I could taste your sweetness, like candy.

Yet, wild things don’t care who they hurt? Do they? 

So please, set me free from your deadly trap. 

Let me go.

Take these tears that well in my eyes. 

For on that day, I saw you standing on the side of the road

your suitcase by your side.

You took the road that led away from here.

It was a dusty road then, and the wind was blowin’

I got some dust in my eyes, ya know

but then he took my darlin’ away.

I saw the limo pull up and the door opened.

His chauffeur grabbed your bag.

Yeah, and I was cryin’.

I watched as they drove you away beyond the horizon.

Since then, I’ve been tangled up in your blues.

My world is one without love.

Now, if you could take a good look at me.

What you’d see is that I don’t look sad

even though all my dreams crumbled to the ground, that day.

The birds refused to sing then, in the morning sun.

I stood there wondering, “Why did I leave you alone?”

My mind was flipping back and forth

like a tailless kite in the wind.

I know that nothing lasts forever

but still, down deep inside I’m blue.

I lost a part of my heart that day

and it ain’t been well since.

There was so much I wanted to do

but these heartaches linger 

and the Doc says I gotta go slow.

Our souls were on fire then

but you kept calling someone else’s name in your sleep. 

Don’t take me for a fool.

I know it’s over between us

but maybe we could find some time to spend together.

I don’t know how, It’s a long way from home.

I live in the same old place, pump gas at the Mobil

next to Willy’s Tavern. 

If you return you can find me at one of those three places. 

Maybe I drink too much, I walk with a cane now, and I shake a bit.

I showed your letter to Emmy Lou

and she guessed you were, maybe, dying.

I hope that ain’t so.

Now, sitting here in the morning sun

I hope you can come back to me. 

Don’t say no!

If only for one goodnight kiss now, and maybe forever.