Have your fingers tenderly touched my face today,

From the edge of the cliff I’ve stood trying to find my way,

Remember me I implore,

Do you remember each line upon my face that came unknown,

I am encased the age that is a reminder of how time has flown,

A beautiful angel at heaven’s door,

Has desire set the tone of your vocal chords response to me,

Or has desire come to rest upon a branch of the cliff’s edge tree,

Doesn’t anything of me remain,

Do I remain in your mind’s eye as the dark haired boy you knew,

Have I been enveloped by times passage as our lifeline’s flew,

Beautiful should be your name,

Each land I’ve crossed be it by toil of war or of business too,

Though unseen by the world you were always within my view,

Don’t be afraid of what remains,

Don’t fear the bandits of youth if love dwells it means nothing,

Transfixed within my soul forever is the love my heart will bring,

You are beautiful, my fire remains,

Put your face to touch upon my face and look deep into my eyes,

Do you see cause to pause or do you see love and all it implies,

Love is within forever I am here,

Forever I am here to be yours as the days pass one by one,

Is there reason to fan the flames of desire or should it be done,

You are beautiful from afar or near,

Upon completion of my journey will my reward be of loving you,

Unless I am given pleasure of you then my time should be through,

I’m desperate in need of you,

Desperately we cry out to our youth to remain within our hearts desire,

Uncertainties fall at the wayside when flames of desire are in the fire,

Others see you are beautiful too,

One day near I fear awakening will come to but one with age,

The cold flesh upon our spouse’s face will need no temperature gauge,

A tear will fall to become regret,

When last you kissed their lips was it the kiss of last goodbye,

Did your heart fill with loneliness you knew would come as you cry,

Beautiful girl I will never forget,

Where my parents are I will be in wait of you after I’m placed to rest,

At heaven’s door I will stand in wait of my angel in a Falcon upon the crest,

Remember me I implore,

Remember when we were eighty that seventy felt as if nothing was wrong,

Full circle came so quickly, don’t let age be where age doesn’t belong,

More beautiful than before,

Remember me I beg of you now don’t let storms wear away the base,

Doesn’t anything of me remain that makes you want to love me anyplace,

Don’t be afraid of what remains within your passion if any remains for me,

Love is within forever,  I am here forever to hold you and if needed to plea,

I’m desperate in need of you, before timbers fall let sounds of allure be heard,

A tear will fall to become regret unless each ounce of love flourished in word,

Remember me I implore, allow passions flow no matter of your health or how old,

Remember me I implore, if too late one final kiss of goodbye while in your hold.

The end, by Pat for Patti

Her image of vision may no longer be yet her image as a vision will be, 

A line that came to me is now understood for its when I no longer see, 

Written long ago as many are to remain unknown until known tragedy, 

To see her beauty is my greatest joy, soon blindness will take it from me, 

A gift given me long ago is the ability to see future events and more, 

Little boys of seven should not tell of their grandfather’s death before, 

This ability comes at times to remain unknown, a prediction I must store, 

Please read this rhyme of my love of Patti, past love of her and so much more, 

Let stand my heart alone rather than place thee in deigning stance, 

Beneath the drop of moonlight glow paradise garden is of dance, 

Dare say I to such beauty, “oh wondrous angel would you by chance?”

Did such sweet answer flow from your lips for me by hap-stance,  

From a thought held tight within my heart it is time I reveal, 

Courage is mine as I have used my fortitude in war’s ordeal, 

Yet I tremble inside as if I have been exposed to be unreal, 

Upon my knees for thee I whisper with intent my love is real, 

Yes, the truth of my heart has been exposed to you in view, 

I hunger deeply for thee and for thy kiss I thirst deeply too, 

From thine eyes of angel’s colors I find comfort I never knew, 

The field of view of thine eyes has me so entranced of you, 

Long ago when young of heart I wondered has another known, 

Has trespass taken place within this field of heart I feel I own, 

Was injury of your naive heart done as war’s hell I was shown, 

Did awakening take place of you to find love for me had grown, 

As Romeo held Juliette my heart held you dear through ordeal, 

For so very long before events or war I tried to prove my love as real, 

Drain my heart of lifeblood if dying of thirst, drink of me as you will, 

For thee I’ll sacrifice life if but for a second of love of me you feel, 

Let stand a tombstone in love’s tribute to honor undying love I feel, 

Quarry of marbled stone so words will stand time’s wrath to reveal, 

Pat Hath Love For Patti unknown until this headstone was found real, 

So many frailties knew this man yet strength of heart seemed surreal, 

A heart once broken by neglect healed by you when realized I’m true, 

Though my return home found no home without it I wouldn’t see you, 

Frailties given me by draft did not affect my ability to love you through, 

Not once has doubt of love entertained my mind I must tell you this true, 

We are the king and beautiful queen of the Texas Panhandle Lore, 

Those of curious nature ask how I survive so much, non ask what for, 

What for is seen in you, what for is for you, more now than ever before, 

Once love of me was revealed for you I would endure so much more, 

The first heartbeat after Cupid’s reveal of you felt of life I never knew, 

Your image entered every cell of my being along with love for you, 

First sight love is real yet I felt I had fought for my ladies hand in oh two, 

Fifteen oh two I should say yet memories of lifetimes past came in view, 

We are more than two falling in love, a reunion of hearts past took place,

As God bears witness I swear each life you have had the same lovely face, 

To awaken a sleeping soul the jolt must be felt of heart to give chase, 

May I stand in fires searing pain if I speak untruth from my aging face, 

Beneath the skies of Texas the masquerade of hearts ceased to be, 

From tender lips of red came a kiss that jolted time’s memories free, 

Memories passed from lifetimes carried within the soul we can’t see, 

Though I may lose you to sands of time I will find you again in eternity, 

My left hand may bear a cane to stand while the other cane is of white, 

An image of you is within my heart, know this my angel of morning light, 

Centuries have embossed your image into my mind to be held every night, 

You’ve watched me die by swordsmanship hand and held me oh so tight, 

Each time I vowed my love until eternities passing, I vowed love for you, 

True of heart I remember my bride’s delight of birds singing in full view, 

In a small house made of gathered stacked stone and thatched roof too, 

Built for you with my hands before the Crusades took me far from you, 

Years passed before a triumphant return to a son I never knew, 

But most of all a one armed knight returned as he had promised to, 

More memories I have such as the North Carolina Ice House in twenty two, 

Though hard to believe I have centuries of experience loving you.

For thine heart I am true.  The end.

For Patti, by Pat

My love will always return to you as I am your moon,

From dirt I am made with particles to depart soon,

My heart is made of cells filled with love from you,

The basis of my love is in each cell filled through,

So simple is love when true of soul and man’s heart,

In my life I am nurtured by your love in my every part,

I reach deep within to express the beauty of loving you,

It is found in your heart most of all if I’m to tell you true,

Words of gratitude fall so short I doubt they are heard,

One day after years of research I hope to find the word,

Mixed with gold and blood until rich in color and value,

Is how I envision my words printed on tablets to you,

I would need to have more, much more mixed in,

Without red rose petals I would not allow it to begin,

The little dark flecks are particles of plum roses too,

I would find all the little things I so love about you,

An audible giggle deep within that’s only heard by me,

Perhaps I’ll find a silica to engrave upon to hear and see,

There are so many wonderful things of you I want all to know,

I am so desperately sorry for the burdens of me in tow,

So beautiful you stand as though from ancient goddess form,

It’s true I must admit that I worship you far beyond the norm,

As the ringing in my ears fades and my vision leaves me too,

Your touch will bring my mind to see why I’m so in love with you.

The end, by Pat for Patti

I love you baby

Dear Poems for Patti readers,

Today I was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration.  I knew something was wrong because my vision became poor very rapidly.  I had an exam last year and within that year my vision changed drastically.  I will continue to write. I will continue to work.  I will face this as best I can with determination and faith, I will do so with Patti’s love in my heart.  I would not change anything in my life because each illness and kiss has brought me to this point.  For over a year I carried Patti’s image in my mind and heart as I served our country during Vietnam.  I absolutely adore Patti and I love to look at her.  That will fade with time as there is no cure.  Thus, I will carry her image forever dear in my heart.  With all my heart I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for blessing my life to be a part of her life.  For over a fifty one years I have loved her and each day I am as giddy as a teenager when I see her.  Excitement fills my heart each morning as I put my eyes upon her.  I feel the same each day as I did when I was seventeen.  Soon I will become excited by her essence and her touch, the image of vision may not be there however her image as a vision will be there, for that I am again grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ.

This poem is about my journey.

Thank you and may God Bless you,

The Dual Timelines of My Existence (Final Straw)

The might of the Texas rain is felt with every raindrop pelt,

An appropriate theme fitting me as pain and heartache is felt,

Simplicity defines my life that is best shown in a dual life timeline,

I have two lines of opposite appeared existence that are mine,

A shattered mess of pain is my health line that struggles to exist,

My timeline of love is strengthened by the only one I can’t resist,

A timeline so strong that the health line clings to it for support,

Sometimes waning health challenges love in an attempted abort,

A coup of such shall never take place as long as she is in my heart,

I’ve skirted the edges of the “Kingdom” as my health fell apart,

But for her my existence would be too unbearable for one man,

With her near to touch or if she is in my mind I do for her all I can,

My draft survival was because of my love and my heart’s need,

Praying to God for her and for me, my faith became my steed,

My shattered frame survived their brutality with but a breath left,

She held my wounded psyche not caring I was no longer deft,

A brief period existed when both timelines hung in precariousness,

No word from home be it from her or family left me a broken mess,

Yet somehow a flicker burned with faith to fan the flickering flame,

This faith proved true for within a year my angel took my last name,

The timeline of love grew stronger as it healed the year of lonely thread,

The embodiment of what I once was was now a memory inside my head,

I had no party or welcome home until I saw her and her smile said it all,

Pride of personal appearance returned to me as I again tried to stand tall,

My timeline of love for a year plus was more ash of burned fuse,

With combat and other missions to endure I was easy to confuse,

I refer to my state of heart yet when detained she got me through,

Clinging to love while at war and no word is a difficult thing to do,

A timeline of ash yet ash has some strength if undisturbed alone,

My health line had been strong until becoming ash before I came home,

A month in a rum bottle while surrounded by my father’s understanding,

Allowed my psyche to feel I could go on and I returned home standing,

Then I saw the smile of an angel that once again made my life worthwhile,

The timeline of my existence so microscopic is scope grew from a smile,

Within the year we were married and my timeline of love prospered,

I knew deep within that my health would forever need to be doctored,

On a trip to my parents at age twenty five I died on the bathroom floor,

The pain had become so intense that I parted in search of heaven’s door,

The bright light was there and relatives gone welcomed me to come in,

When I saw her sobbing with my limp body in her hold my heart broke again,

They say you don’t feel heartbreak and pain in the Garden of Paradise,

I felt the pain of her heart and somehow I felt tears rolling from her eyes,

Her precious eyes, so beautiful and laden with care for all she may see,

She is precious, a gift given us by God, or perhaps I’m chosen as it may be,

As the years quickly flew by I have been diagnosed with too much to count,

Yet the pain may make me pass out I pray to remain to endure, to be pain stout,

I am strong, in wartime I endured sodomy after each joint was brutally forced apart,

Dislocation is painful but daily kidney stones laced with liver stones stop my heart,

Please understand this is but a small sampling of the diseases I endure,

Two back breaks as well as atrophied thighs from infection they didn’t cure,

To walk is pain but to walk to her and beside her is a heavenly gift for me,

I am the man walking at her side, I am the man beside the Angel they see,

Diabetes insipidus leaves me in thirst while meds for nausea dry my mouth,

Kidney disease along with AVMs that bleed into my ureters push clots south,

Outward swelling of my abdomen has created pain so intense I pass out,

As well the AVMs are in my liver and have atrophied parts near and about,

The stroke we choose to ignore was no doubt an AVM but there is no cure,

Life is fragile yet with the desire to survive it is possible but you must be sure,

The timeline of my love is like a woven vine entwined in her and wrapped within,

The pain I endure is a droplet if payment for the one I adore let the pain begin,

A timeline parallels love and I would guess it is swollen and laden with pain,

Perhaps it is scarred and rugged in appearance but needs love to remain,

I’ve heart disease beyond the broken heart I endured from war and no letter,

St. Louis Encephalitis brought brain damage but by her I endured to get better,

I’ve endured the timeline of painful health in acceptance that a price be paid,

At seventeen I fell in love with a thirteen year old and knew my path was laid,

To be at her side is paradise and I take great delight in watching her smile,

I wake each morning to look at the beautiful angel that makes it worthwhile,

Endorphins make pain tolerable there is no doubt and from a look I am high,

It is so hard to express that she is my dreams, she is the angel in my eye,

As  pain became too much her beauty brought comfort indescribable,

After each of my fifty surgeries her smile made it all more bearable,

I’ve told so many and perhaps I’ve told too many that to see her is Divine,

I take so much pleasure and delight to point her out and say I’m her “mine”

To see her is my greatest pleasure, yes, beyond sex I admit to all today,

And this afternoon, I was told macular degeneration will take that away.

The end, by Pat

It’s a stranger moon than I have ever seen in the Texas sky,

I’m more afraid of what I don’t see than no cars coming by,

It’s following me as I walk this highway I’ve driven so often,

Been to hell and back but thought I’d be riding in a coffin,

I wish I wasn’t going home but I have no other place to go,

Over two years ago it took extreme courage just to show,

This damn sea bag is suppose to weigh eight nine pounds,

I’m so lean now compared to when I carried so many rounds,

The draft and war was terrible but my time is finally through,

My heart is so heavy as I struggle to get my mind off of you,

I’ve journeyed through my mind and my emotions trying to find,

Why I haven’t heard from you is finally taking a toll on my mind,

I have no idea why I’m sobbing so deeply as if I’m a beaten child,

To say I’m as low as a man can get would be words far too mild,

The Navy medic prescribed these pills to ease my mind he said,

I’ve wondered many times if they should make me feel so dead,

I’m night walking so alone, I feel I have no ties to family or friend,

Perhaps a cry alone in the darkness will help my heart to mend,

I’ve studied these stars alone at night as I prayed you would wait,

It seems as if the brutality that brought me home came too late,

I suffered the greatest cruelties man can place upon another,

If I endured it to return home to emptiness I would prefer other,

Although you’re still so young I know your heart once felt love,

If once for me it must have departed to be no longer thinking of,

It seems as if I was born with you in a place no living soul knows,

A place where eternal love is born and a river of love forever flows,

So rare is this anomalous wonder that for a day a choir of angel sings,

Songs open to trumpets blare and soften to harmonizing violin strings,

As I walk and I cry I remember remembering the future of your hand,

So crazy is my heart that to forever hold your hand I crazily planned,

I had, I truly had planned to hold your hand and walk as we grew old,

I had planned, I truly had to pull you close to protect you from the cold,

All the way to Asia and back I watched a star I called our star for so long,

And tonight, the night of my “victorious” journey home I feel I don’t belong,

I’ve walked alone for so long now that I believe my mantra may be “alone”,

I’m no longer a shining star and our star has fallen or has it never shone?

Despair is in the night air and my sobs have slowed to but a childlike cry,

I understand my beautiful angel and perhaps someday you’ll tell me why,

Didn’t it feel right to you when I pulled you tight against my beating chest,

I am alive today because of loving you and because of you I did my best,

Yet as I walk thinking of family rejection, your rejection, and country too,

I wished I could return to you, we must be careful what we wish for its true,

The brutality I endured in the red hands was my ticket to freedom I thought,

And here I walk so alone that I feel I could disappear and easily be forgot,

I have moments of elation as I think “yet I am alone, it is I that had the kiss”,

My heart quickens to beat hard and fast as it did last year in heaven’s bliss,

All I want to be is whatever I have to be to be loved by you until time’s end,

A desperate dream? And today I am but a lonely warrior that will never mend,

I am hanging by a thread little girl, I have never been so afraid in my life,

How can I be so afraid after I endured so much brutality and war’s strife?

Although I walk my vessel is adrift as I search the heavens for a sign of you,

I feel a flickering glow deep inside as if you just thought of me, I hope it’s true.

The end, by Pat.  Written October 10, 1969 at 23:45

You move through the morning air affecting all you touch,

Affection comes from this that makes me love you so much,

I hear you flutter about as if a winged fairy sprinkling dust in the air,

When you finally set down I see a transition to my lady fair,

Somehow, someway I see you beside a huge oak and babbling brook,

Your silk gown drapes your breast capturing my eyes for a lingering look,

The magic of morning is a wondrous delight when I hear you about,

The calm of the air amplifies a crickets chirp into a disturbing shout,

Within my mind the wonders of you lives forever as you truly are,

I’ve held you in my arms each morning although I was stationed afar,

While camping in the Colorado mountains my heart journeyed to my mind,

In the magic of memories she was there, the angel I hoped to find,

The tenderness of your soft kiss lingered on my cheek as sleep came to me,

As the morning sun returned warmth to the mountain side there you’d be,,

Your beauty is endless and I am blessed to be your greatest admirer,

When the fishermen gathered round I was cuddled with you near the fire,

Perhaps one day you will understand I am a most dedicated man of affection,

It’s your affection I am bound to with every ounce of my being’s dedication,

Chains don’t bind my heart to you as love has a much stronger hold,

Here I live this boy of meager birth living the greatest love story told,

Morning angel of morning light bring the gift of your touch near I ask,

From but a touch of lingering delight I find myself ready for love’s task,

To hold you in my arms as you settle to rest from your morning round,

I will place kisses upon your form as we lay on the grass in love’s surround.

The end, by Pat I love you baby.