Note on the Dirty Napkin

Just a tired old man, of thirty two.

Warm whiskey in every sip, hugging something

that's long gone.

The note on the dirty napkin she left said

"Why'd you even come back?

You knew I loved him the day we met."

The wind howls all her lies, time and again.

He takes another drink,

Continuing his dance at the edge of the flames.

Knowing he's done been burned.

It's that damn cold that gets him, moving slower, hurting longer.

His mind manufactures warmer weather down in Mexico.

That snow outside his door don't melt with a heart as cold as hers.

All those lies and a gutted life.

And another drink, and another, and another.

His fooled heart just can't thaw this one out.

He stumbles through the snow.

Filled with thoughts of a woman who loved the words letting go.

His mind captures her eyes as he sleeps in the unforgiving cold.

Wishing he could dream, but all he sees is that marooned smile.

copyright 2015 salvador cordova

Your Old Love

Someday you’ll find me.

Under all your anger

And all your hate.

Covered by a warm

Blanket of your wretched love.

You’ll remember the calm

Before your storm

And wonder what it

Was all for.

Your eyes will rain

Down tears.

Too late, too late.

Your spring showers

Can’t deliver a sunny day.

No thing can stop your downpour.

No thing will help you forget.

The rolling thunder of memories.

Every night I held you tight.

Every time I let you win the fight.

All those things you exchanged

For your freedom, for him.

copyright june 2006 salvador cordova

Something to Hold on to

Love is a word so over used. Love her, love him, love that. And we all think we know what love is. These feelings that run through us, the butterflies, the highs a face or a touch or a kiss can give us. I thought I knew what love was. Then I met you. All I thought I knew about that word went out the window. Yea you gave me all those feelings, but they weren't fleeting. They stayed. And you weren't even trying. They became a part of me. The word love wouldn't suffice anymore. You taught me to change that word into life and eternity and forever and my heart is full. You showed me unselfishness. To give everything to another. To have a feeling so deeply that nothing not even time and distance could erase it. Making love became a part of the deal. The word sacrifice disappeared because these feelings for you overpowered any hint of loss. To place that beautiful smile on your face, no thing was too much, too far, too difficult. You are a

part of me somehow,  like my eyes or my lungs or my soul. I couldn't imagine you not being in my life. Many people say I give you my heart, I give you all my love, no one will love you as much as I will. I can't do that. Those are phrases with empty meaning. A man might as well promise you the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. I give you every second you want to spend with me. I give you the highest position in my life. I give you all that you want from me. I give you everything I am and will be. And that, that is something tangible you can hold on to.

ALONE IN THE DARK

The years burned away.

Like a grassfire out of control,

‘Til all you have left is a

smoldering black mark in your path

that’ll burn you each time you tread there.

You ask yourself what your time is worth,

Waiting for heroes that don’t exist.

Praying for miracles that don’t occur.

Hope flies away like that

Last ray of sunlight before dusk,

Leaving you alone in the dark.

copyright 2010 S.Cordova