Everything But Marriage

My mother's love
Interesting interests
A fabric stash
Leisure time
A book collection
Loving roommates
Close friends
A real job
Three trees
A Vespa
A good voice
Opportunities to sing

Beautiful little things
like
My appendix
An Eiffel Tower
A sister statue
Caribbean coral
A conch
A hat head
A guardian angel
Magazine pages
Paintings
Grandma's golden bird
Mamacita's radio
Dragon chairs
A safe and cozy place to keep them

Friendly community
A pond right next door
Little dog
My mother's BJs membership
Delicious foods
Simple tastes
Chocolate mousse recipe
Costume pieces
Trusty fanny pack
Not thinking about my bank account this summer
Loaning money to friends
International friends whose absence tugs at my heart
At least my heart is being tugged.
Children who love me, who have loved me
like
Noah
Ryan
Andrew
Connor
Irene
Sylvain
Sophie
Children's books
I can read
Bigger books full of information
Library access at Harvard
The plan of salvation

The Death of Wisdom

That was wise.

I had thought ahead.
The future seemed shapeable.
Choose now, love then.

What an illusion.
What a desperate attempt.
A future of good feelings born of logic.

Mind and heart were always opposed.
What was I thinking.
There can be no truce.