Valentine

Lazy Jazz

The singer plays over a lazy jazz track

Unaware that she’s been dusted off a dusty old mix that you made me 2 years ago.

The chorus asks me to run away with you.

I hope that she is still singing on your behalf.

If you still mean it than I will come.

I would ask that the destination be tropical,

preferably some old Latin American City with cobble stones roads.

We can find a quaint café, where the coffee is just right.

And we can talk about the conundrum of appreciating Spanish Architecture while acknowledging that every stone carries the blood of my ancestors.

I have to be honest that even in this reverie, I imagine us in an argument. 

Neither of us will disagree that Old Spanish buildings are beautiful or that they are a product of some of the worst oppression seen on earth.

Instead we will argue about some obscure aspect of the conversation where we

agree about 75% but will fight for that 25% protecting our space as if

we were being attacked by foreign invaders. 

I imagine this is the part of the poem where you become sad…

I can hear your thoughts.

“You write a love poem about us, and you can’t for this one piece of literature, imagine a world where we aren’t arguing?”

My response today is:

“But I love you.”

And I hope that your response is

“I love you too.”

And that your eyes do that thing they do when you

hold the line between arguing and making up. 

You are a slow transitioner and so you remain guarded, in case I slip back into my self righteous soliloquies. 

Since this is my dream,

I choose for us to kiss as we have many times. 

I’m suddenly sorry that we disagreed. 

And I hug you the way I do when I try to reassure you that everything is alright.

We continue to walk down the rolling hills and brick laden streets. 

The sun is starting to set and it’s one of those moments where you can feel perfection. 

It’s not one of those things that you realize because of how you feel.

It’s because this is how you never feel. 

I don’t feel anxious; I’m not worried about what responsibility I have to tend to. 

I’m present in the moment, as are you.

“Es la puesta del sol”, I exclaim.

You smile.

I say “Never leave me.”

You reply, “Nunca”.

I love when a singer can make you feel that what they are doing takes no effort at all.

Lazy inflections over subtle piano massages and gentle guitar strokes…

I want to wakeup next to you. 

Either in a bungalow in some sunny getaway

or in my apartment in the cold winter of Upstate, NY. 

I promise to play good music for you and light a candle. 

If I could play piano I would.  If I could sing I would. 

The only way I can sing is with this keyboard

and my hands that write these words.

Happy Valentine's Day LJ :)

PS.  Does this song fit the criteria?