They wrote each other letters
breathless and palpitant befitting young lovers,
which she carefully wrapped in ribbon
placing them in his duffel bag
sitting silently in the garage

Reaching in, a random note from ’65 he chose
visible still her lipstick on the seal
reading it over and over
recalling nights they gave themselves
to sensuality

touching lips to body
the excitement bestowed on one another
in a bed of dark pecan
visions of hips and finger tips
limbs perfect and trembling

It was a good life together
abruptly ended by the Fates
in his hand their passion’s echo
recording the fires once shared
the light now fading in the heavens
and in his body

Returning the missive to its place, now sad
he went into the night to change his thoughts
listening to frogs and crickets
moonlit dragonflies
clacking palms and jacaranda

An excerpt from "Letters and Visions  - Poetry from my Seventieth Year"

http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Visions-Poetry-Seventieth-Year/dp/1481003704/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353944011&sr=1-1&keywords=letters+and+visions+scarangello

Originally published on Fictionique.com and HaggardandHalloo.com