and here’s another case of
“road not taken” – I could
have followed in her footsteps
become a professor of accounting
had pageboy hair combed neat
taught tax accounting on cruiseships
under a Subchapter S corporation
established sole proprietorship for
various self-employed activities,
lived the good life in Lorane – but no
fine figure of an Indian
gentleman, cowboy hat (smart,
curvey), western shirt (yoked,
piped, embroidered), cowboy boots
(shined, pointy toes), a series of
El Caminos, each slicker than
the last – I heard he roped in
ladies, but even gossips smiled
and nothing seemed to compromise
his posture or his pride
whirlwind of volunteerism,
here’s the drill: say hello to
her at coffee hour and before
you know it, you’re signed
up to be in charge of x, y, z –
projects, grants, committee
efforts everlasting make
one wary of charism like
hers, until you learn two
simple letters – n and o
I knew her when her
looks were sharp as knives
her body like a wolverine’s
compact, well muscled, ready for
a fight, whether on the playground
or (more legitimately) on
the court or diamond – years
have softened her, the blurry
photo shows her essential kindness
is more visible through flesh
sunny guy with twinkling eye
and eversmile, partner in prank
with my college boyfriend taught
me how to wander room to
room with toothbrush gave
us many hours of satisfaction
with his rock band always
sounded good to me although
we made fun of how he
said ‘down t’the shore’
fantastic figure of a force
in fashion – I want to
have a window I can
use to peer into her
life, her closet, her trips
to Europe (Belgium currently) – still
young enough to take advantage
of her mother, wrestles heavy
glamor from metallic urban grime –
style lives, her almighty power
childhood friend from school, her
premier attribute being “Guy,” her
brother’s name – appealed to me
as odd, and somehow French,
although why would I think
“French” at that age in Illinois?
in appearance both mature, demure
(might have been the uniform)
her voice and hair both spirally,
curling with softspoken spunk