My Father's Cabinet - P. Gregory Guss

[Larry Robinson]

Is This All There Is?


At age 71,
reviews of past moments,
seem to be standard fare
lapsing back into thoughts
of past unexplored relationships

What if I had dated her?
the one in school who seemed so out of reach
leaning into a delicious forbidden nectar,
a goldenness that sang me awake

Yet was just out of reach in my
not-yet-ready for a prime development entrance
instead, a shroud, as familiar as my sunken states,
collapsed under the wavering of
white flags of surrender and
Ill-fitting shoes of shame

Such heights of golden-electricity were indeed mine
but I had not yet heard this song inside myself,
I only saw the precious values
as others sparked and bedazzled
to my waiting spectator-soul

Oh, if only then I had my tall spine,
my cloak and top hat
dancing my giddy, my mirth and my glee
out onto the polished wooden floor
in a body holding strength, virtue, compassion,
tenderness and yes, exuberance too,
I would have held
Lighting!



	- P. Gregory Guss
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