Love Poem: An Old Man Who Loved Fervently

An Old Man Who Loved Fervently

The odor of this old man
brought back decades of accumulated images his woman cherished
she recalled a proud young man standing naked
ready to prove his manly worth

but in this moment flickering memories swam in her brow
recognizing the years had betrayed the old man’s youth
and the glory that was dissipated
cell by cell fulfilling the curse of time’s cruel gift 

We only get a finite number of years  
and all that is left is the truth that was,
the truth that is, 
and the truth that can’t be changed

In times of joyful exchanges 
she remembered his smile demure, his aching body sure
his penetrating eyes pure 
ready to turn her love into a moaning wail of bliss

His body odors spoke to nights
when long ago she quelled his need 
his squirming tongue excelled 
to reach parts of her soul

She whispered, "slow down"
to create lasting memories of ecstasy 
and she felt his thrusting love
oh, how he loved her 
 
That evening laying her softly on their bed
not one word was spoken 
she looked upon his weathered wrinkled face    
closed her eyes and held him tightly

To feel sublime delight in smelling the odor of this old man
recalling the night she dreamt of his epitaph   
that simply read “I loved her and she loved me”
she wept

Wistful segments of images quickly came together
of this kind and gentle old man
who passed away in his sleep
secure in her arms that night.