there is a reason i requested this restaurant

much to ponder tonight in our realm

i brought you here on our first date

praying anxiously for a Lady and the Tramp moment

you brought the romantic within me to fruition

red and white checkered tablecloths

chianti bottles dripping Bistro candle wax 

the weekends with musicians  

the night i held you dancing and sang "That's Amore"

when you hold a dream and know it isn't a dream
Vita Bellissimo, cuando ti tengo tra le mie braccia
i fell deeply in love with the budding beauty i held

each kiss a creme brulee heavenly sent
i became hopelessly entwined as you flowered
years we have been coming here
the anniversaries, birthdays, graduations
the loss of our child
how the umbra embraces you
soft lights piercing, dancing across your face
time slowly accentuating the changing hair
as i matured, more and more captivated
with your aging years as we danced thru time
holding your hand across the table
fingering the ring i long ago placed there

offered once to change it to a larger one

a mistake made, never mentioned again

women attach the deepest of memories

sentiments cherished to depths unfathomable 

wise men cherish such an honor

silence is more than golden

crushed flowers, theater tickets, are moments with you

it is hereiwatched that bud blossom 

becoming the potpourri of my heaven scent
it is here aging into a fine wine we are at a precipice
we need to talk
it is hereiknow what lies ahead
but at this momentiwish to dwell in your eyes
it is now I want to languish in memories of you
it is hereiam so grateful
for every moment you have given me
it is hereibreathe Loves' Immortality
it is hereisee in your eyes my everything
it is hereigrasp tightly to the forevermore
it is hereiknow whatever Love holds for us
we will have held but a modicum of its entirety
we will have earned, Love's Promise
we will sing in the glow of the star we are
we drive home, my hand rests on hers

soon I will have to look into her eyes
i am dying
i must be the strength she carries forward
i must be the vision of the hand waiting
when life becomes a table for one
Vedi, la vita e sospiro di etenita
breath is the first step into eternity

3/18