Long Afternoons

 
long afternoons which
merge into nights fraught
with strange dreams  
in this summer season of undiscovered age
gazing through my window
out into the street
I can almost see the woman from my past
a woman I loved walking toward me
suitcase in hand
with that little girl innocent smile she saved for me
but no
that is not going to happen
she'll not appear as if in mid-air
still, the thoughts of her comfort me
and gets me through
these long afternoons and nighttime dreams
an isolated man am I
old friends have I none
oh, I'm not lonely
not in the least for I know people
still, I'm alone by most people's standards
my life has veered me into this place
both mentally and physically where I am
my family
such as it is, and I, are separated by distance
and, in fact have disowned each other
hurts from a distant past
I remember love from me toward my brothers
they loved me back
there is still some of that
but not much
I'm not complaining
truly I am not
just putting things in perspective
for whatever reason you may think
still . . . I have
long afternoons which
merge into nights fraught
with strange dreams
 
August 29, 2016 / Jerry Pat Bolton