Don’t we all
At our desks
In a meeting
Or at dinner
Drift silently away
Wondering and wishing
For things or
Someone or with
Things with someone
Don’t we all
Ponder what if
What if when
When will wishes
What if wishes
Until of course
A cough a
Bell a call
Plucks us out
From our dream
Back to whatever
Drum we march
But what if
What if what
And where and
When and how
And with whom
I do that
This I have
Done that this
Usually that this
Becomes more much
More many times
More than that
This that this
Then becomes grander
And deeper and
Harder to forget
But now I
Know that this
Isn’t what you
Wanted that this
This that won’t
Ever be instead
We’ll just be
What you wanted
Not this and
Certainly not that
Like a rocket
That’s blasting off
The thrill comes
Watching this monstrosity
Lumber and lurch
As it struggles
To lift itself
Despite its clunkiness
Off the ground
And move slowly
Thundering gaining height
And speed free
From the ground
Out of sight
This was us
This rocket us
Once filled with
Expectation and hope
And once ignited
Is now gone
Up there somewhere
Don’t we all
Don’t we all
Wish don’t we
Wish or hope
Don’t we all
Don’t we all
Dream don’t we
Dream or expect
Don’t we all
Don’t we all
Accept don’t we
Accept or settle
Don’t we all
Don’t we all
Disappoint don’t we
Disappoint or discard
Don’t we all
Don’t we all
Do just that
You were presented
To me as
A large present
Beautifully wrapped and
Tied with a
Tidy satin bow
Admire it I
Did before settling
Out to discover
What lies within
Oh another present
As lovely as
Its parent digging
Inside another and
Inside another and
Inside of that
Yet another still
And finally at
Last finally after
What seems like
Months of presents
I’m at last
Presented with my
Gift a photograph
Of our kiss
On the Seine
That one small
Thing that started
As something grand
And became finally
The most treasured
Most remembered most
Important of all
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 