what love can do

I’m tired. Things are going well at the Duke restaurant, and well means thirty more customers a night without any more help in the kitchen. I’m going early and staying late – and having fun as well. I’ve worked hard to put a new menu together for our newly renovated space and some of the new dishes are really fun to make (butternut squash and pear ravioli in cinnamon pasta, for instance).

In a week when I’ve watched my brother go back to working too much too soon after his back surgery, I’m aware, at 52, that working eleven and twelve hour days when I don’t sit down is not something I can do indefinitely, particularly if I want to grow old with the woman I love. And so I’m spending my nights driving home from work praying about what the years ahead will hold, even as I am grateful for what fills my days right now.

One of the things high on the present list is a new Bruce Springsteen album came out today. Thanks to an iTunes gift card from my boss, I got to preorder it and found it waiting for me when I got up this morning. And one of the gems I found was this song, “What Love Can Do.”

There’s a pillar in the temple where I carved your name
There’s a soul sitting sad and blue
Now the remedies you’ve taken are all in vain
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Darlin’, I can’t stop the rain
Or turn your black sky blue
But let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Well, now our truth lay shattered you stood at world’s end
As the dead sun rose in view
Well, if any of this matters, with a kiss my friend
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Darling, we can’t stop this train
When it comes crashing through
But let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

When the bed you lie on is nails and rust
And the love you’ve given’s turned to ashes and dust
When the hope you’ve gathered’s drifted to the wind
And it’s you and I my friend
You and I now friend

Here our memory lay corrupted and our city lay dry
Let me make this vow to you
Here where it’s blood for blood and an eye for an eye
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Here we bear the mark of Cain
We’ll let the light shine through
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

In the midst of my long days, which are dwarfed by what is happening around the world from Gaza to Sri Lanka to the Congo to Darfur to wherever else you want to name, I need to hear him keep singing,

Here where it’s blood for blood and an eye for an eye
Let me show you what love can do

Yes, yes. Please show me.

Peace,
Milton