October brings such lonely things; early nights on icy toes, dead leaves pressed against the road or in piles that explode when a bitter gust of wind blows. Here throughout these 31 days like a tree losing its leaves I wait for her and in turn she prays because my L--- believes in true love and in destiny, in miracles and God’s will. So I wait for her like that leafless tree and I wait and I wait for her still. Her faith has made me sturdy, her love has kept me warm and a day has past and left me 30 more before she’s back at home and one step closer to my arms. Once she’s home come November she’ll ask to wait a while longer and somehow I’ll grow stronger and still on through to December when love seems to radiate from the hearth of our hearts still on and on I’ll wait and even as the new year starts. Till spring comes and that lonely tree spouts leaves so green and wet I’ll be waiting patiently until her mind is finally set and if it takes till summer’s heat brings sweat upon my brow I shall not go, shall not retreat I’m too deeply rooted now. Each year by year I’ll hold her nearer to my heart, my mind, my soul No matter how our fates unfold as this man grows older in the mirror my love for L--- will never wane. The winds may howl and scream, clouds may darken and rain but never will I lose the dream. No storm can breach us, no distance outreach us nothing will turn me from you L--- Though I may age, leaves fall, branches lean through it all my L--- our love is evergreen.