Unfinished Gestures

Poem written 12-15-25.

1.
Many years ago,
Before my heart was born,
But after I thought,
That I was very grown-up

I lived my life,
Like a game,
Choosing whichever decision,
Made the best story

I wandered the country,
Like a meandering storm,
Stomping through the lives of others,
Like a child through a garden

It was then that I met you,
The first woman I lived with,
The first woman I married,
The mother of our child

2.
Even at the beginning,
It was never easy and seldom good,
We would scream and stomp,
Hurling insults and crying

But we had nowhere to go,
And no one to turn to,
We were alone together,
Until one day we weren’t

First the Old Man,
Came into my life,
My teacher and benefactor,
Who barely acknowledged you

Then I settled in and made friends,
Got adopted by the locals,
I was having so much fun,
That I never noticed you weren’t

3.
What can I say at this point,
That would mean a thing,
To either of us,
Or to her

If I told you that I still love you,
I would be lying,
Except for when I do,
And then my heart breaks

It’s been so long,
But sometimes I wake up,
With a start and a shudder,
And I could swear I smell you

I think of that life we made,
And the prices we paid,
Of all those little moments,
And unfinished gestures