R.I.S.M.

"What is a R.I.S.M?" you ask in wonder
A smile lights up my wounded eyes as I think back over the last year of my life and softly say, "It's hard to explain, but give me a moment and I will try."

I met a man and made a friend. I found a love, precious and sweet.
We helped each other through hard, hard times,
And for awhile my life was complete.
He made me laugh, he made me cry, and he made me want to live.
He gave me hope, lifted my spirits high, and to him all my love,
I was able to give.
We had fun at the river, on the water, in his boat.
For you see he was a sailor, a man born too many years late.
He could have been a pirate, a swashbuckling sight to see.
Make the ladies all swoon, while putting fear in the hearts of all men.
But he was a complicated man to say the least.
He loved nature all things alive, all God's creatures' great and small.
He was an Indian of true spirit and character.
An amazing wilderness man like I had never seen.
Shooting straight and fair and true with a great faith in all things from Heaven.
This simple, country man also believed in treating women with only love and respect.
Never touching one in anger, only with gentleness, even within passions embrace.
A man who believed in morals and values, with a kind and generous soul.
But also tough as nails, nothing could penetrate the cold exterior he erected around himself.
He protected his heart at all costs, claiming to be the worlds strongest Redneck.
I loved this charming, wonderful man and was a part of his world for awhile.
But his protection against my love came from the pain within his own heart.
He held himself back hidden away, so you see for awhile, given with laughter and love,
My nickname for him was Redneck Injun Sailer Man!
Sailor spelled with and 'e' because he liked it that way!
I let him go, gave him his "Freedom" from me, because above all else he had to be Free.