There But For Poem by Red O'Mara

If I had passed you, one morning on the beach,
I'd have nodded and, half smiling,
said some ordinary thing
like, ‘Lovely morning'.
Then you'd have returned my nod and,
politely, half smiling,
agreed.
I would probably have thought
you seemed that sort of lady
who was nice enough.
And, when we'd passed,
I might then have turned
to observe you from behind,
in that way men do.
Then, continuing on my way,
I could have passed
a woman even younger.
One prettier in that way men find
at once to be attractive.
And, after acknowledging her
and she me,
I would, most likely,
have observed her, too, from behind.
Then, my thoughts loitering a while,
continued walking further,
and further,
from you...