A Memory In Simple Verse Poem by Thomas Bates

SHE TAPPED ME
ON THE SHOULDER FOR
THE SECOND TIME IN MY LIFE,
DRAWING MY ATTENTION IN DEEP SEA REFLECTIONS & BACK TO THE PAST
WHEN SHE WAS THE AMBIGIOUS ONE
I'D LOVED SO MUCH.

WHEN SHE APPROACHED ME, I SAT OBLIVIOUS
OF HER PRESENCE.
SHE WALKED UP FROM THE REAR OF A CITY
BUS; AS OBLIVIOUS AS
I WAS TO ALL THOSE MONTHS PRIOR
THAT I WAS RUSHING TOWARD
THIS CHANCE MEETING WHEN
I'D TRAVELLED BY BUS
BACK AND FORTH ALONG THE STREETS AND ROADS
NOT KNOWING
I'D MISSED HER AS MUCH AS I HAD.
MY HEART HAD BEEN ACHING SECRETLY, UNKNOWN TO ME,
IN SILENT LONGING AND REMEMBERANCE.
(IT SEEMS IRONIC, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THOUGHT
I'D FINALLY
LET HER GO,
SHE VISITED ME AGAIN LIKE THIS - LIKE SNOW OR A
LOST AND FOUND SPIRIT
FLITTING LIKE A SPARROW DOWN ONTO MY LEFT SHOULDER.)

MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS
THAT I WAS IN DANGER, AS MANY INSTINCTS DO,
ON EMOTIONAL LEVELS
UNTIL BURIED
AT THE CORE/SOURCE OF DREAMS.
- THERE WAS A SUDDEN SHIFT IN SUNSHINE
AND HALF-ERRIE SUBSTANCE OF ALL AROUND.
I'D GOTTEN ALL I'D WANT FROM DEVIANCE
AND WHEN THE DEVIL TOOK IT BACK
I SAID GOODBYE
BREATHLESSLY INSIDE
TO MY
CURIOSITY AND BORN -
AGAIN INNOCENSE AND

CRIED

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME
I WAS SAVED FROM MYSELF AGAIN
BY THE MERCIES OF UNEXPLAINABLE
PROVIDENCE.