When a Man Loves a Woman

When a man loves a woman
He will watch her from afar
One quick glimmer from her eyes
Will feed his soul for a month

He’ll sculpt Davids and pietas
Spell out sunrises with crimson
Each Madonna and Mona Lisa
Will exude her resemblance

He’ll write symphonies and plays
He’ll build pyramids and bridges
But when found within her presence
He’ll be thunderstruck and speechless

He will run away and hide
For his feelings to subside
And with valid arguments
Conquer the entanglement

He will try some substitutes
They will fly him to the moon
He will dance and twirl and spin them
Yet will dream of sitting near her

He will lose his appetite
He will simmer, churn, and boil
And like Johnny Cash for June
Rip a sink out of the wall

He will crave her when he’s broke
He will fancy her when rich
He will blame her when he’s angry
And will sweat her when he’s sick

He will wait till he can have her
He will slave till price is right
And like Jacob wanted Rachel
Love her more so if he can’t

He will brave the cold and winter
Suffer hunger and fight wars
For the hope of being with her
He will walk around the world

Though he’ll never hold her hand
Though the fate will keep them separate
He will carry her inside him
Like a phantom fragile secret

When he finds out of her death bed
He will run his horses breathless
And like Orpheus for Eurydice
He will storm the gates of Hades

He will love against all reason
He will love beyond the grave
She will be his faintly whisper
When he draws his final breath