She opened the door and waved for him to exit with her into the night. He paused at the stairs and listened. Upon assuring himself that no sounds came from the teenaged daughters’ rooms he quickly proceeded to the door. Once outside, he paused to slide his feet into sandals, then quickly joined her in the driveway. She smiled in the darkness as she matched her side to his and silently slid her hand into his - palm to palm - and intertwined her fingers with his. 1
“I love you,” she whispered.2
“I love you, too,” he answered as they continued their slow stroll to their favorite place. 3
“Do you think other people our age still hold hands when they walk?” she asked.4
“Probably,” he said gently. “But I don’t really care if they don’t.”5
She looked in the moonlight to catch a hint of tone from his face. “You like walking at night and holding hands?” she asked.6
“I like having you by my side,” he answered in his pleasant tone. “I like holding hands, or putting my arm around you. I just like being with you, and I’m not bashful about that in the daylight either.”7
“But don’t you think there’s more of a romantic feel to it at night?” she asked as they crossed the wooden pedestrian bridge and into the park where they often went at night for a few moments of solitude. “Doesn’t it make you feel … I don’t know.”8
“Young?” he offered.9
“Yes,” she answered. “Like the days before the kids were born, when we would take walks by ourselves at night just to enjoy the night and talk.”10
“I remember,” he said as they continued hand in hand to the steep sloping bank of the brook that ran peacefully through the middle of the park. “We were so young and naive.”11
“And in love.”12
“Yes, in love. But that hasn’t changed, has it?”13
He stepped in front of her and offered her his other hand. Grasping it in her free hand, she settled herself into a seated position on the sloping berm. He took a seat beside her, and the two of them leaned back onto the manicured lawn together.14
“You’ve always liked lying on the grass in the summer nights,” she said.15
“I loved night time when I was growing up on the farm,” he said. “I especially loved hearing the Chuck-Wills-Widows calling and the frogs singing. I still miss hearing the night birds.”16
“But the stars haven’t changed,” she offered.17
“No, and I love being out to see them.”18
She snuggled herself to him and found his hand again. She smiled a most peaceful smile and turned her eyes to see his face softly lit by the moon. “You used to sing to me at night,” she said.19
He smiled at this reminder. “You used to tell me I was going to call the pigs.”20
“I was just joking,” she said while giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.21
“I know,” he said, then fell silent. 22
“Sing to me again,” she said after a moment.23
“Here in the park?” 24
“Sure.”25
“You don’t think it’ll bother anyone?”26
“Who else is here?”27
“Good point,” he said. He smiled as he tried to remember the songs he sang to her when they were young man and woman in love.28
“You used to sing one about ‘When I grow too old to dream,’” She said.29
“Ah, yes,” he said searching his memory for all the words. He turned his face to hers in the moonlight and began softly crooning:30
When I grow too old to dream31
I’ll have you here beside me32
When you grow too old to dream33
Love for you will fill my heart34
“I always thought that was a really odd song for you to sing to me,” she said. “Where did that song come from?”35
“I’m not really sure, but I know I never sing it right.”36
“You sound fine to me,” she cooed in appreciation.37
“Not the tune,” he said. “The words.”38
“What’s wrong with the words?”39
“I changed them because I didn’t like what the original words said.”40
“What did they say originally?”41
“When I grow too old to dream, I’ll have you to remember, when I grow too old to dream, I’ll have your love in my heart.”42
She paused and contemplated the difference carefully. “What’s wrong with that?” she asked.43
He sighed in the warm summer night and held his silence. After a pause, she squeezed his hand to prompt him. He sighed again, and began, “You know, Grandma died several years before Grandpa?”44
“Yes”45
“Grandpa really loved grandma. He loved all of us, too, but his heart was really with Grandma. I remember when you and I were first married and we went to my parents’ house, I took a walk to the barn with Grandpa. He told me I had ‘such a good wife.’ He told me I needed to really take good care of you and always appreciate you because a lady like you is what makes a man’s life happy.”46
“Grandpa said that about me?”47
“Yes, it was the last man to man talk we ever had – the last bit of wisdom imparted from someone who knew to someone who needed to know. I knew how much he missed Grandma even twelve years after she passed on.” 48
He paused again. She thought of her question and this strange response. “That made you change the words to the song?”49
“Grandpa’s words are true,” he said. “You are where I find happiness in life. I changed the words in the song because I don’t want to have you to remember like Grandpa had Grandma to remember. When I’m old, I want you here beside me – I will never get tired of you and my heart will never long for another. I’ll do my part by always being by your side and always loving you.50
To be honest, I only have one fear in this world and that is being widowed. If you’re not here beside me, then I’m through here – I don’t want to continue with just your memory.”51
She smiled as she contemplated these gentle words, then rolled slightly toward him and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Then I guess I’ll have to be sure I stay here until you’re ready to go, too.”52
He turned his head and returned her kiss gently on her lips. She reached affectionately and caressed his cheek. “So the words are just for me?” she asked.53
“They’re just for you, and they’re not just the words of the song. They are my heart to yours – I want you here beside me, and I’ll always want you here beside me.”54
She turned her eyes starward again and contemplated this new revelation from his heart. “Then,” she said at last, “Don’t sing it. I just want to hear the poetry in your words knowing it is your heart to mine. Just recite it for me please.”55
Smiling now, he rolled onto his side to face her, propped his head up onto his hand and looked lovingly into her moonlit eyes. More beautiful to her ears than ever before were his words as he softly spoke to her in the night:56
When I grow too old to dream57
I’ll have you here beside me58
When you grow too old to dream59
Love for you will fill my heart60
Author notes
I think it is romantic to grow old with the one you have loved, and with whom the most precious memories of life are shared.
Category I chose is (I hope it is obvious) Poetry under the Stars.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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amazing
thank you my friend for this remarkable write, you are a true writer and i`m amazed at how you give soul to your characters,
this is a heartfelt piece and the feeling that i have after reading it is best described as : "I don`t want to grow old !"
lol
Edited on Jun 15, 2:07 p.m. because 'typo'. -
Thank you my friend.
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I read a little of it steven and loved it.... I will get on offline and read remaining for i have to run for now.... Keep writing dear friend and I hope you are fine and happy
~ Evenstar
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this is a nice poem. i enjoyed reading it.
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Thank you so much Stefani. I'm so happy that you liked it. Thank you for the wonderful comments.
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Wonderful piece! The imagery was nice, and the whole story had a bit of an ethereal, dreamy quality to it. Like in movies when they are portraying a dream, or distant memory. You can imagine the voices becoming hollower, fading in and out. The images seem to shift colors. It is like someone remembering this conversation. Could even be taken (in my mind) almost tragically. Like the wife is remembering the conversation after the husdband has died or something. I quite enjoyed this! God bless and keep writing.
~Stefani~ -
Thank you Max, you flatterer
. Good to see you back, my friend. I'm really glad you liked it. Again, thank you.
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What a beautiful passing sentiment. If only we should be so lucky to find one with whom our hearts will be filled with after they pass, and what an eloquent way to put it! You have such a captivating dialogue that alone builds such character relationship so strong, it would take most writers countless pages to even compare with those few stunningly placed motions entwined with those few absolutely harmonoius exchanges of words.
I truly hope you will continue to write, so I will be able to continue to learn from you. -
Thank you so much SwimFan08. I'm so glad you liked it.
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Thank you so much Mia Donna. I'm happy you liked it.
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Thank you very much GenTishi. I'm glad you liked it.
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love it!
This is soooo beautiful and super sad!!! I love it! Its a great story that keeps you on the edge of your seat because it doesn't wander off and get boring. I love the little poem When I Grow Too Old To Dream..its great! -
That's a really adorable story. And I agree with what you said in your author's comment, though I am certainly not old enough to call myself old. Very sweet write here.
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Saaaaaaaaad!
Awww! That was so sad -sniffs- I was like, just crying over one of my poems and here I am sobbing over yours. I hope I'll have the love you and your wife have. -Sighs- I want my boyfriend now..if you'll excuse me, I must go find him, wonderful read, do keep writing, and if you arn't too busy, go look at mine, and tell me it sucks. I'm sick of hearing that I'm good. haha, anyway, thanks so much, bye bye. -
Thank you so much Liz. I'm very happy that you liked it. I always enjoy your work my friend.
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Thank you so much providence. I am so happy you liked it.
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Steven, This my friend is lovely. I enjoyed this so much. I hope this is exactly how my husband and I are at an older age. I think it is wonderful to grow old with your love as well.
Your imagery within your words is really fantastic and the feeling this evoked was really warm. You have indeed reflected a mirror image of what love shall be as we age with our beloved partner.
Great work! Good Luck.
LIZ -
beautiful
Many times on Ap I have said, "I almost cried" but tonight I actually cried. My mom lost my dad 10 years ao and her heart is still broken.
I want the type of this type of love. Beautiful ageless, timeless -
Thank you so much my friend. I always enjoy hearing from you, and I'm so glad you liked it.
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BRAVO!!!!
Tell me this is your story...it's so beautiful in it's simplicity. You have a way of taking an ordinary event and making it come to life in a way that touches anyone who should have the privilege of reading. My applause in times a hundred (okay just pretend..) -
Thank you Caresse. I really appreciate the kind words, and the applause. Thank you so much.
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Excellent read
Thank you for showing me the beauty of being with someone you love. You brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat with the emotions you stirred. As always, your work is amazing. -
Thank you for reading and leaving the kind comments ciscodoo. All the best to you and your lovely wife (I do mean lovely - I saw the picture on her page). I'm glad you liked the story.
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Thank you Miji. No worries there (I have teenagers - I'm very used to being razzed about my age
).
I'm really glad you liked it. Thank you for stopping by and reading. -
Well, I'm not implying that you're old. I meant that when people are older... um... young love is frivilous in a way?
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It's so cute. (: I'm glad to see that old couples are still in love. I grow fearful nowdays because most love doesn't last, as it seem to shatter, fragile like glass, and pain emits from the shards.
I hope when I grow old, I will have someone by my side forever. Thank you for writing such a beautiful story and I hope to see more works like this in the future.
-Miji -
Bravo!
Thankyou Steve,
for the thoughtful read! I had sang a song to my wife when we first met and this reminded me to sing it to her again on our 9th months-ary. She had tears in her eyes, hehehe and I could barely talk after, (Collin Raye- Love Me). Take care and bless you for this gift! Good luck in the contest! Ken (husband of Eris)
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Thank you so much for teh read and wonderful comments Dragonsear. I'm glad you liked it, and I hope you will find what you are looking for.
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I almost cried. I hope I find a love such as this.
Wistfully,
dragonsear -
Thank you so much for stopping by kissing-eris. I looked on your page, and you and your husband are a very nice looking couple. Congratulations on your ninth anniversay, and may God richly bless you in the years to come.
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Thank you my friend. I really appreciate your kind words. Thank you for stopping by and reading.
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Hi there Steve as usual you have written a winner, give me romance I can't get enough of it, maybe if others gave it a try the world would be a nicer place to live in, great, I loved it to pieces, hugs Di
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Hello Steven,
I am reading this during the 9th wedding monthsary of me and my husband. I have tears in my eyes right now and I will be letting him read this too. Thank you so much for the great read. Yes, growing old with someone you love would be the best thing that would happen in your life. And keeping that feeling alive is a challenge among couples. Great write! Cheers! Eris
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Thank you so much JesikaRabbit89. I'm happy that you liked it.
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Thank you so much Kimberly. I'm really glad you liked it.
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awww its so cute!!! goosepimples n everythin!!!!! beautiful rite xxx
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Awww... This one made my eyes leak. This is sooo beautiful Steven. What a wonderful scene you have created for my mind to absorb. I love the way you show the not only the love but the vulnerability that we are so often exposed to because we do choose to allow ourselves to love and be loved. This is great! Thank you so much for the reading pleasure.
♥ Kimberly
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