I hear him in the bathroom; those sounds he makes

Sinuses damaged from years of dust and ache

Thirty years of chemicals on construction sites

His body don’t work like it used to, but that’s alright

His skin shows every summer he worked in the sun

Hands move slower now from all he’s done

But those hands tenderly held me — menopause our life torn

They say gallantry’s gone, where’d the good men go

But they don’t see what I know

This man would take a bullet, lay his life down for me

Worries himself sick about my security

Penny-pinches so I’ll be fine when he’s gone

Like that won’t break my soul when he’s gone

He’s my weathered warrior, my lover

My udbhu-kanti man

I’d choose him again

Every lifetime, every chance I can

We built this house with our four hands

Extended it when babies came, made our plans

Raised those kids through hell and back somehow

Here we are in the peace and quiet now

There’s wisdom in the silence between our words

Mutual respect — that’s what we’ve earned

Never once did I trash him to another soul

Never did he break what we built to make us whole

They say gallantry’s gone, where’d the good men go

But they don’t see what I know

This man took every bullet life could throw our way

Stood beside me through every impossible day

He’s my weathered warrior

And I’d choose him again

Every lifetime, every chance I can

He tells me… “When I’m gone, take that cruise

Find a young Latino with a six-pack, mi amor”

But he doesn’t understand…

The fact that he worries

That’s all I need

That is everything

They say gallantry’s gone, where’d the good men go

But they’re blind to what I know

This man took every bullet life could throw

Built our life penny by penny, hand in hand

He’s still worried about me — that’s a real man

He’s my weathered lover

My udbhu-kanti love

I’d choose him again

In this life and whatever comes above

Memoria, mi amor

Every sound, every mark

Every slow movement

Is beautiful to me

You’re my weathered lover

And I’m yours… mi amor