In 1990,
he was headed out the door,
on his way to get a divorce
from his beast of burden,
when he realized
he didn't have any money
& neither did I...
I handed him a large piece
of Mother~of~pearl I had,
(intending to make a bracelet)
thinking he could sell it
for the five dollars he needed
for parking at the courthouse
(so he wouldn't get towed)...
He told me then that someday,
he'd buy me pearls ~
I laughed...
In 1996,
we went to the West Coast
& spent an afternoon in Laguna Beach,
talking to street angels & artists ~
he drew a picture, I wrote a poem,
& Leonardo painted a rock for us...
On our way back, he stopped in a shop
& I waited outside, thinking he might be
asking about a good restaurant ~
in the car, he handed me a small box ~
I said, 'Before I open this, whatever it is,
I want to tell you that today was a perfect day.
There aren't that many of those,
so I wanted you to know.' & kissed him...
When I opened it, I gasped ~
inside were perfect pearl earrings ~
he laughed at my obvious delight
& reminded me
that he'd promised me he would...
In 2003,
he went Home ahead of me...
I held his hand gently,
& as he took his final breath,
I whispered,
'It's been an honor & a privilege, Sir' ~
he squeezed my hand one last time,
then he was gone...
In 2004,
I opened my desk drawer,
looking for my favorite pen ~
as I shifted things around,
I heard something drop...
it was the Mother~of~pearl ~
he hadn't sold it, after all...
It was lying on a note
in his familiar, beloved handwriting ~
it said:
'Swanee, I think you're an angel in disguise
& we don't know it.'
I wept...
It was the best investment I ever made...
Adding your comment:
Thank you, Kind Sir...Indeed, we were blessed...When he was dying, he made me promise to live & love again; the living...took some time...the loving...sighhh...One cannot command Love, Mat, as you know...it comes of its own volition or not at all...but I am open to possibilities...that took some time, too...I greatly appreciate your gentle remarks, my new Friend...
Wanda
Love ya right back, Lady. 
Yeahhh...me, too. Thank you for hosting a great contest. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Be well, Poet. 
Wanda
You're not alone, Lady...None of us are...
Be well, Poet. 
Thank you, Reenie...for all of your lovely words...Of course, my Friend, that is one of my favorites by the Belle of Amherst...
Two other favorites are "Tell all the Truth, but tell it Slant ~" & "I sing to use the waiting"...We always had to read her poems of death in school; she wrote 1,775 poems & has so much more to say...Thank you, my Friend...& yes, I think I did know about your parrots, through a comment to Robin (Lyrical Soul)...they are lovely...I once had a Friend's cockatoo named Waylon perch on my shoulder & gaze at me adoringly...
