“. . . by Autumn Railway, Love”
-by Rg2

I boarded at 11:03 PST, Love, in midtown Santa Barbara
The third car of Amtrak’s Coast Starlight,
A window seat to view autumn’s splendor in motion
Inspiring a love letter I’ve begun to write,

I have this visual that when I disembark
People of all stripes will be station-waiting,
Yet our eyes will be hungrily drawn at first sight
God, woman, I’ve been anticipating,

To unfurl your scarf just loose enough
to place my hands astride your sweet neck,
As my palms stroke your lower facial skin
An intimate lip-greeting beyond mere peck,

We’ll stand there awhile, lost in one another
while envious eyes train upon our embrace,
Your squeeze goes from tender to unbridled wanting
My autumn romance is written on your face,

How, oh how, have I missed thee, woman?
I can only attempt to count the ways,
A man shouldn’t show his emotional hand, I’m advised
But these are unpromised days,

People want to be loved in this thing called life
Some just may not know how to ask,
I’ve held my silence quite long enough
Here, I want you to take my flask,

You laugh, don’t laugh–at least not yet
For it may not be what you think,
A tight-lid container could hold a secret untold
Much more than the spirit of a drink,

Go ahead, unspiral the ridged top opening
but gently begin your curious pour,
Cup your other hand so that nothing escapes
Consider this a special metaphor,

As the diamond necklace slithers from its hideaway
Vicariously my heart’s truth is unleashed,
Your oval eyes enlarged by the specter of gem-art
Then on me they tearingly feast,

Why? You ask–there is no why, my Love,
How about a sacred “just because,”
Sometimes a gift can say what words may fail
I want to honor the tandem romance laws:

Do you no harm and remember that charm
should never become a bygone endeavor,
Autumn will come and, sadly, it will go
But my romance has plans for the ‘forever’

And a day . . . and nights . . . and countless tomorrows
That privilege me with you by my side,
As the train pulls away, in your eyes I need to say:
I love you, and we won’t be denied,

This autumn romance.

Happy Pamper-Her-Friday, Love.

***
Whether by railway or trailway, I’m there. Romance. -Rg2