A POEM

Tall, erect, slender, lithe, firm, tanned,

Wearing a brief swim suit, matching pareo, tied sarong-like, low over her waist,

The young woman strolled past me and smiled.

Seated on a small sofa in the lobby of an expensive hotel,

Just a boardwalk away from the vast stretch of Santa Monica beach sand,

I thought of many summers past when I stood as slim and straight as this young woman.

I lay on Mediterranean beaches, carefully, cautiously, slowly building a suntan,

So it wouldn’t peel too soon and lose its flattering color on my skin.

I wondered if this confidant looking woman on this beautiful day,

Wondered what life had planned for her.

I don’t think I did then on those Mediterranean beaches.

But in that brief moment in the lobby of that expensive hotel

Right next to the sand,

I was overwhelmingly overjoyed - and strangely relieved -

For my many years have been filled with love, adventure,

And opportunities to contribute whatever I had to offer, to others.

I no longer had to wonder.

So I sat up as tall as I could, pulled up the turtle neck blouse covering my turtle neck,

And warmly smiled back.

Cimadb
May 9, 2007