Tuesday, November 17, 2009

We met for drinks















We met for drinks
for the first time in weeks.
We talked about your family
and mine.
So much to discuss.
Your father is ill, but in denial.
You struggle to help him
when he has to help himself
first.
Your brother is well.
He’s working in Africa
and you miss him.
But he is happy.
Your mother is fine.
She continues to work
for the school district
and likes her new boss,
better than the old.
She is happy.
My family is much the same.
My father’s work is suffering
from this economy,
but he plays tennis twice a week
and walks the dog every day.
He is happy.
My mother is busy
as always.
She goes to her workshops
and seminars
and continues to create.
She is happy.
The conversation turns to us.
We are not happy.
You worry about meeting someone
and having a child.
You think your years are numbered,
but you are younger than you feel.
You tell me about the internet date
who dated a friend of yours.
Creepy, you said
and a dealbreaker for that relationship.
I tell you about the girl,
so much younger than me
that I met at work.
I care about her so much
but can’t act on it
because she knows
how much older I am.
We talk about relationships
in general
and how much we would like
to have one.
We wonder what is wrong with us
and why it’s so hard
to meet someone.
It’s not our fault, we decide.
We’re pretty.
We’re handsome.
We’re funny.
We’re smart.
We read.
We exercise.
We’re tolerant.
We’re forgiving.
But we’re not happy.

1 comment:

  1. a night out with a woman i've known since we were 16. we tried to date, but she was too much my sister to be my lover.

    ReplyDelete