Kate & Leopold

I wander in the fog of memory

Bygone days fleeting wisps

Shrouded in mists of time

Searching for meaning

What has it all been for?

A fleeting phantasm catches me

Ensnaring my thoughts

In a silken trap of gossamer filaments

It was her

It was always her

She was the meaning to it all

We met in line at a movie

Kate and Leopold

Both our names and the movie's

She belly laughed when I told her my name

I fell in love at that instant ...

We shared popcorn

She likes extra butter ..

When my fingers brushed hers

Reaching for my soda

My pulse raced

I think she noticed ...

Waving away the wisps of forgetfulness

I focus on the then ...

When I walked her home

Tentative, desperate, lonely, hopeful, happy ...

She smiled as I shuffled my feet awkwardly

On the sidewalk in front of her Georgian house

Unsure of what to say

She gave me her number

Her father opened the door

Came onto the porch ...

I left ... with number clutched next to my heart

My palms damp with nervous sweat

Her father watched me go

A frown on his face

Three years later we were married ...

Kate and Leopold ...

Romeo and Juliet ...

Sixty years later ...

I wander alone ...

In the fog shrouded mists of memory

Trying to shed light on the happier times

To recall our first kiss

My heart pounding

As I leaned in ...

She met me .. looking up

Topaz eyes shimmering in hopeful trust

Another light illuminates the path ...

Walking hand in hand on a country road

Picking flowers

I presented her with a handful of daisies

She laughed and put one behind her ear

Plucking petals

He loves me ... He loves me not

I felt awkward but more alive than ever

...Our wedding night

Frightening, Blissful, Perfect ...

Two years later our daughter was born

She gurgled, cried, smiled

The world opened wider

What had been full was complete

A universe of three ...

Little Lorraine...

Now with kids of her own

A loving husband

She'll be okay ...

Waving away the enshrouding fog

I try to wave away the memory

Kate in that hospital bed

Shriveled but gorgeous

Hair spread on the pillow like a halo

Touching my cheek

Cool fingers cupping

Comforting me

As she lay there dying

"I'll wait for you my Leopold" she said

Just before she passed

...Darkness ... Tears ... Longing ...

I see a light

Ahead

A path opens ...

Lined with daisies ... Swaying ...

Leading to a door ...

Kate ...

Young ... Beautiful ...

Arms open in welcome

As I pass through - mists clearing

....

Last thing I feel on earth

Lorraine's tears on my face

And the loving, comforting arms of Kate

....

Kate and Leopold

My meaning

Our meaning

In life

In death

In Eternity

"Lorraine .. we'll wait for you... Live well and happy"