Single

       for Teresa



He's in his 40s and never married,

Never had the pleasure of

Fathering a child or having

A long-term relationship,

Living with a woman under

The same roof, maybe he's gay

Or just plain eccentric,

Not knowing how to relate

To his social world,

But I've stopped trying to live up

To what a normal guy in his 40s

Should be like, for

So many creative people were

Often loners or unhappy in love,

Expressing their sadness through

Their art -- just look at

Van Gogh or Emily Dickinson

And countless others --

So I'm not worried

What others think of my

Bachelor lifestyle,

For I enjoy my freedom

Of having to answer to nobody,

Of not being stuck in some

Marriage just because it's

Comfortable or because

Of the kids, for I've seen

Too many fatherless kids,

Too many divorces, too

Many women abused by

Their husbands, too many

Cheating partners and

Too much dishonesty,

Too many people searching

For greener pastures of

Newer relationships with

Younger or more exciting

Partners, but I don't mind

Being single, answering

To myself alone --

It is by far better than feeling

Alone with someone else,

Staying in a destructive

Relationship, pretending things

Are going well -- because

When I say I love you,

I mean that I love you,

Darling, and I do not believe

In any "soul twins", or "one light"

Or some other "divine union" --

Whatever the hell it is --

For I believe in honesty

And tenderness between

Two people, who choose to

Be together, not some polyamory

Or open marriage, or some other

Alternative lifestyles with

Different sexes --

No, I believe in us and the things

That we have in common,

For I do not seek perfection,

Only the happiness of sharing

Myself with you if you want it.





March 15, 2006


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