One Year, My Dear

My Darling,

It’s been only one year.
(In ways a lifetime’s score.)
I can’t help but here remark--
Each day I love you more!

But beyond that loving glory
With all my being and my heart,
I also hap to LIKE you,
Twice amazing from the start.

I have no doubt you love,
Nor qualm that I love you.
We’ve sailed some gentle breezes
Lest some storms that we’ve tossed through.

Though storms are naught between us,
Together we’ve held fast.
Through a bit of wind and weather,
I trust this bond will last

You paddled in from distant lands,
Clamored on my shore,
Navigated to my landing,
Happed upon my Antique door.

I recall what you were wearing
Brig cap to shoes you sport,
Funky blue sunglasses,
Golden Brig shirt, fishy shorts.

An interesting concoction,
That fellow who stood there.
Daughter Nikki said you had some
When I wondered ‘had that he hair?’

Perhaps your kind demeanor
Gave me notice of your glance;
Perhaps your probing questions
Allowed me further your advance.

One week later you returned
As I was leaving, thinking not
That you really had an interest.
Perhaps I was forgot.

But you appeared and soon insisted
That I visit on your yacht
And to assist you with an effort;
A gift of OARS I got.

What kind of crazy man is this
Who gives a lady oars?
Flowers or some candy
Conventionally opens doors.

Of convention, Darling, you are not;
Of this I quickly found,
You are well beyond
Stupid boundaries people pound.

And what of you, you crazy girl,
To allow be led abroad
A quiet hollow vessel
With strange man who gave you—oars?

He could easily take advantage
A rape, or even worse!
But my angels were upon me,
“It’s okay,” they all conversed.

And yes indeed, okay it was,
I lived to see the night
We agreed that in the morning
Meet at park with dog invite.

Walk and talk we did that morn,
Though talk, you did the most,
Was much to meet my pleasure
As your sincerity played host

“This woman, I’m perusing,”
You’d cheerfully include
With every introduction;
No shyness would allude.

Then an offer for the evening,
Dinner and a row
I carefully accepted
(My angles told me—"Go!")

And row you did straight to my heart
So much insight from the bow,
I recall you simply ask
I, “keep smiling, just as now.”

Then as the full moon took its rise,
I straddled all my thought,
I knew this brief encounter
Through my lifetime I had sought.

A more romantic evening
N’er before I happed to know
But since, the romance, Darling,
Has never ceased to grow.

I recall just one week later
Late to Ante’s walked to dine
You told the aging waitress
Our anniversary was the time.

Not ‘one week’ to clarify
But let her think ‘first year’
And she made a grand to-do
Though we were last to disappear.

Many have been our adventures,
I can list them everyone,
And quite go on forever
As I’m having so much fun!

From elephants to gnarly dogs,
Raccoons, toilets, keys,
Too many troubled children,
Guitar picks, butts and please...

Don’t forget how much I love you,
My most handsome gent,
In the kitchen, on the porch,
In the backyard by the fence…

Oh dear, this can go on and on
As I have so much to say;
In another dozen poems
I’ll accolade of how we play.

But wait, just let me tell
Of one more loving thought...
I very truly love my oars,
And the piano that you bought!

Thank you, Babe, for everything.
Happy Anniversary!