Why? (Prose)

Why


"Why?", laughed she to I
A quizzical smile in her eye...
I took a breath
Closed my eyes
And replied...


"Because although Samson slew an army with the jawbone of an ass
Deliliah owned his;
Because Helen's face launched a thousand ships;
Because my testosterone, as scary and domineering as it looks,
Bows like a schoolboy to the royalty of your estrogen;
Because the last thing I expect to hear in my mind as my life leaves-
Is your voice, calling me home;
Because no matter how overcrowded this world can seem,
When you were not in my heart, I wandered it alone;
Because when a mountain stares back at me and asks for the password to ascend,
Your name is the answer it seeks;
Because I can live like a spartan in a cave, surrounded by rock,
But your presence in my life makes me want to make a rug of the bear
And keep a fire going, and let small things live;
Because your smile makes my breath stay home;
Because although I am stronger, you are wiser;
Because you can bear children;
Because I want to fight for you;
Because I want to stop fighting, because of you;
Because the confusion I feel in your presence
Feels like wisdom to me;
Because in my soul it is always winter, but your tulips push up through the snow;
Because there is nothing like a sunrise after a cold night-
And you are like that hope to me;
Because you don't let me forget that there is at least one person pulling for me;
Because I can take all my talents and make something nice for you (if you help);
Because I try harder when you're looking;
Because whether you know it or not,
You have what it takes to be the love of my life;
Because when my knees want to buckle at the sight of the onslaught,
Your flower in my pocket makes my fingers grip the club;
Because you don't apologize for being as beautiful as you can be;
Because you came here, in this moment, when I needed you most
After I had cried to the Universe for help 
And you heard  
And made it seem like it was my idea to find you
So I could still be a man."


"Oh", she smiled.

--Eric Marley