To A Former Lover

Unlike you,
I will not renounce
the passion of my youth,
now I am old and
the fire burns low.

I do regret my sins,
mostly of omission:
failing to tell of love,
and sharing of love.

The women I've known
could fill a ballroom.
Glad I am I danced
with each in turn,
yet...now I wish
I had held her tighter,
lifted her higher,
given joy to get joy.

If only I could love
each of my loves again,
playing with her toes,
caressing her calves,
sliding my hands along
her tense, waiting thighs,
then kissing the nape of
her neck while bathing in
the luxury of her hair, and
finally, finally seeing it:
the smile behind her eyes.

(c. 2012)

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Very honest and intense piece were regret speaks in a desperately sorry voice as the protagonist rues not having held on to love.

[Nolo Segundo]

Thank you, John, for your very thoughtful review.

[Zedrisch]

Amazingly touching. Your words make me feel the love that you’ve put in her smiling eyes.

[Nolo Segundo]

Thank you-- I had to learn the hard way to value love....

[Zedrisch]

Me too....

[Prynka]

Beautiful words. I loved reading it. Colorful youth I could see and you painted the words into a beautiful picture. Very well written.

[Nolo Segundo]

Thank you, Prynka (cool name!), I'm glad you liked it-- and you are right, a true poem paints words.

[ElizaB]

Thank you for entering my competition.

I particularly liked the last chorus. The imagery you create is just lovely.

Especially bathing in somebody, really taking them in. Its such a beautiful thought.

Again, thank you

[Nolo Segundo]

Thank you, Eliza-- now that I find my still young mind (age 24 to be exact) living in a 70 year old body (a strange, twilight zone thing that is), I miss the insouciant passion of my physical youth. Well, as they say, better to have had and lost ....

[Rose Marie]

Dang dude.. That really was beautiful!!!