i have retrieved a rose from our garden

the stereo is set to play Ravel's Bolero

she is in the kitchen at work on dinner

i come in and wait, holding the rose behind

wait for her attention to present its back to me

i hit the button, place the rose in my mouth

i begin my Albatross mating dance

they mate for life

her hands fall to the stove
one of those rare moments of me she well knows

shoulders dip inward

head shakes in a moment of disbelief

as she turns with a slight chuckle

there i am the bird in epigamic feathering

the look of the Macho Spanish Dancer
my gaze is dead center on the target

hands upon my hips as i menacingly move in

prancing like Lipizzans i traverse the kitchen

throwing my head back like a victorious stallion
i draw on visions of Huns at the gates
this is not a mission but a terminal with destiny
the hounds of hell whimper, retreat from my feet

this continues for a couple of minutes

then approaching her as a brave matador
the thought of perishing for love excites me
to die for the Red, Red Rose

kneeling, i present her the rose

the knight errant surrenders, to wander no more

life's chivalrous quest has ceased at her knees
taking the rose she commands me to my feet
her hand finds my cheek beckoning my lips
eyes that possess a gravity only stars command
our lips meet

at dinner, she is still in that smile
worth every prance

and that is why i watch nature films

you can learn a lot about love from an Albatross
and one more point, bulls are color blind

2/27/19