She tried to be morose but
Couldn’t come close.
She tried to be mean but
Felt unclean.
She tried to be herself and
Found her path.
He came home from work and
Settled in with a beer to dull the
Numbing monotony of his life and
Scarcity of hope or dreams.
He walked to the kitchen to a
Plate of food left in the refrigerator
By someone who would rather not
Be there for many reasons.
He walked back to the couch where
He anesthetized his mind with
Television and beer and nothing else
As far as he knew.
She never would say why
She dated the men who didn’t
Treat her well. One could surmise
That things hadn’t been at all
Stable.
She never would say why
She dated the other guys, the ones who
Called and behaved irregularly and
Insolently insisted on having their
Freedom.
She never would say why
She did not date the next person.
The one who treated her wonderfully.
One might gather that it wasn’t
For her.
One thousand times he tried and
One thousand times he was denied.
The one thousandth and first attempt
Someone finally saw what everyone
Else had missed. The singular genius
Flowing from his heart, discovered by
Exactly the person who could see it.
So she listened to what everyone said and
Found herself no closer to happiness than
When she started. Something missing,
Fleeting motivation, satisfaction absent.
A gift she didn’t want, need, appreciate.
Taking a quiet walk along a small stream,
Ideas make their appearance.
Not that one, not this one, what will people think.
Stop. Listen to the only one who matters,
Who knows you, who can decide.
An old man at the edge of a cliff
Looking over a majestic canyon,
A roiling slash of river running far below.
So many years past, opportunities missed,
Pleas ignored, withered heart.
A small hand in his reminding him of
Inescapable matters. A quick look down, a
Reassuring smile masks somber memories.
He closes his eyes and feels the breeze
On his body, the sun on his face, the
Vastness of the landscape, a speck of
Insignificance perched on the precipice.
Life perdures uninterrupted but for
Those denied solace by fear and gall.
A heavy fog rolls down the street
Hugging every object along
It’s silent path. A figure appears
Momentarily and vanishes.
Memories and regrets replaced by
More pressing concerns.
Many people said he wouldn’t succeed and
He didn’t because he listened to them.
Many people said she wouldn’t succeed and
She gave up because she believed them.
Many people said they wouldn’t succeed and
They discarded their vision.
Many people say all kinds of things,
Preferring to reside on the periphery of
Vulnerability and courage rather than jump in
The maelstrom and prove their mettle.
Easy to hold someone back when you’re
Already behind. Avert your ears.
Knock knock. Who’s there?
Banana. Banana who?
Banana me. Banana you?
What? Who?
It’s me, your wife.
Why didn’t you say so, I wasn’t wearing my hearing aid.
Are you wearing it now?
No thanks, I’ll go later.
Uncomfortable silence, as usual.
