I Save My Love

BY MARJORIE SAISER

I save my love for what is close,
for the dog’s eyes, the depths of brown
when I take a wet cloth to them
to wash his face. I save my love
for the smell of coffee at The Mill,
the roasted near-burn of it, especially
the remnant that stays later
in the fibers of my coat. I save my love
for what stays. The white puff
my breath makes when I stand
at night on my doorstep.
That mist doesn’t last, evaporates
like your car turning the corner,
you at the wheel, waving.
Your hand a quick tremble in a
brief illumination. Palm and fingers.
Your face toward me. You had
turned on the overhead light so I would
see you for an instant, see you waving,
see you gone.

The first thing I notice about this poem is the repetition of the words “I save my love” which is also the title. I think the author used these few words multiple times to reassure the readers that the content of the poem ties to the title and that she uses those words to express her personal experiences. I think the poet is trying to say to save your love for things that will last and to live in the moment.