By Mark A. Leon

I lost my way home
You left the light on for me

A flicker to remind me of the heartbeat I seek
You left the light on for me when the darkness poisoned the soul
Left me cold and alone
Beat me down on these lonely streets

With hope disappearing in the distant sunset
You left the light on

A simple light filled with warmth and love
At the edge of the window sill I looked through so many times before
Inviting and playful as it tickles the air
Powerful and nurturing

Once we kissed in the shadow of that light
Danced to the harmony of our heartbeats

The mistakes I made, never a fault in your eyes
You let me breathe and experience the journey on my terms
You held me close while letting go
Always by my side
Love letters read in my mind in those darkened hotel rooms

It was you
Encouraged by ambition, you cheered the risk
Praying for safe passage
Hoping for this soldier to return home

Now, I see
The light gleaming in the distance with each step closer
You left the light on just as I remember
Bright as the North Star
Clear and pure

I want to rest on your bosom
In your soft arms, I will lay
For just a few hours
For the night
Perhaps for the rest of our lives
Always safe
Protected by your love
Warmed by the light you left on for me

By Mark A. Leon

Tell me about your day
About the little things; the tiny details
Telling about the way you are seeing the world
I want to see it through your eyes
The way you feel others
The way you find goodness
How the sun shines in the eye of a storm
How your tears cleanse you from the drought
Your eyes light the darkness
Your hands make a child feel safe

Cry to me
Shower me with your feelings
Be grateful with faith and hope

Tell me about the way you found satisfaction in the laughter of a baby
Helping a stranger in need
Giving food to the mouths of those who starve

I want to hear all the details as we lay in bed
I want to fall asleep to the sound of your voice
I want to hear how you put color in this black and white montage

Tell me about your day

The next day, I will kiss you gently on the lips
Promise you it will be alright
Never let the world hurt you alone
I’ll hurt with you
Be close for all time
Nothing I won’t do to protect you

Each night with the setting sun, when you walk through that door, so beautiful with each passing day, you tell me about your day

Until my weary eyes close and my last vision is your beautiful soul
How lucky I must be to have you to tell me about your day for the rest of my life

By Mark A. Leon

In the summertime
The sweet, sweet summertime
We had nothing, but represented everything

Sweet kisses in the night at the lake cooled our heat
Your lips, the charge of lightning in the air
Your tongue cooling off my adolescent urges
Fighting hard the plight of a teenage dream

Under the stars, naked in the pond, clothes on the rocks, a 40 to give us strength
It was midnight under that moonlight
Courage at a high

No future, no past, no consequences, but the ache of my longing to feel you by my side

Forever was the promise we made
Forever until that first autumn leave

A car ride away seemed like forever
More like a planet, a galaxy, a universe

It was meant to be for these two passing stars
My prom queen
My youth
All my greatest memories
“They couldn’t end”, we said
Just the words of innocent hearts

But, we have tonight
We have this hometown finale
Cue the theme song

Tonight, we dance, tonight we swim, tonight we kiss
In one intimate moment, felt only by the young, we make love

No fanfare, no photo journal, no yearbook
No story for the reunion
No, just that secret smile
When I see you with your husband and two kids and for a moment, a blink in time, picture myself next to you, I will remember every second of this night

This special night when we lost the last thing we could
That was our promise, in the summertime
The sweet, sweet summertime