An Air Kiss for the Former Debutante

You weren't merely indifferent, Kate.
You were keen to have all see you so,
And I, the piker past his depth, among
Those sons and daughters of the tanned
And tennis-playing set, was pushed
Away, to pine for you, my sticky
Kegger cup in hand, beside your
Circle's lesser lights, the ones with
Neither brains nor looks, until, at last,
I got the hint, and went without
Goodbyes.

I did all right, and you did not.
I missed the rings your sort can grasp:
The school in Providence, the pledge,
And then the summer job with
Sister Muffy's father's Greenwich
Firm, a chance to make a mint, I
Heard, but most of it was lost to
Coke. I went to State. Of course,
I did, along with all the pikers,
And I got my crummy biz degree,
The jimmy that I put to all the doors
Which were unlocked for you.
When one gave way, I went inside,
And bowed and scraped, and
Stayed on late, and, now, I have
An office,

And I have a woman in my
Home.  She came here from a
Farm, and, from the start, she
Found me pretty sweet.  She
Stared at me the way I used to
Stare at you, but I was not
Indifferent, so she's stayed with
Me.  I don't know why you've
Come here, Kate.  You seem to
Hope I'll give you something,
Money is it, memories of being
Some poor piker's dream?  I've
Nothing for you.  Take the hint.
In one respect, I'm glad you
Came.  At last, I have the chance
To say goodbye.



Poetry by Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 18 times
Written on 2011-04-27 at 12:20

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