A Long Time Ago

I'd seen Sylvia before, and, as
So many others have, I pulled
Her into lurid dreams. I lost
Track of my destination,
Stopped and sat down on a
Bus stop bench. Then, when
My mind had cleared, I called
It quits and went back home,
And wished I knew her name.
A year would pass. I needed
Money, saw a sign hung in a
Window of a grubby little place
Which wholesaled carpenter's
Supplies. I went inside, and
There she was. I asked her for
An application, left, and, once
More lost in dreams, dashed
Home to cover it with lies.
She smiled when I handed
It to her. She took it to her
Boss, a man so grubby as
His store. He came and led
Me to his office, just a corner
Of the warehouse with a
Cabinet, desk and chairs,
And asked a couple stupid
Questions. Then, he said
I had the job. He brought
Me out to Sylvia. That's
When I learned her name.
The winter left and spring
Arrived, as I grew used to
Taking calls and walk-ins
Next to Sylvia. We'd go
Outside for lunch sometimes,
And tell each other pieces of
Our stories. As the weeks
Went by, I could no longer
Capture her to thrust into
My lurid dreams. Her beauty,
Undiminished, came to seem
An incidental thing, less
Important than our having
Gotten to be friends.



Poetry by Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 61 times
Written on 2016-01-05 at 23:54

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