Not surprisingly I
Am giddy with
Glee like a
Child amidst boxes
Paper and ribbon
On Christmas morn
Saturated with newness
And lovely surprise
Like an excited
Puppy my happiness
Does embarrass me
But instead of
Tail my tongue
Wags too much
Excuse my verbosity
I mean no
Harm except to
Simply say weeeeee
For you are
In my life
Off you go
Many miles away
I wonder who
You will meet
And whether or
Not they’ll remind
You of me
Or will you
Pick them out
Like Dim Sum
Now I understand
What my dog
Felt when I
Disappeared behind doors
Of the schoolbus
Many years ago
Even in a crowded
Room I feel alone
It’s there I think
That perhaps others think
What does he think
And there in that
I surprise each them
I’m not who you
Think that I am
I know these things
And the songs that
Wait what I sing
To just your ears
So people read
This and me
And I stand
Naked here awaiting
The tomatoes and
Soured fruit but
You of all
People must know
That I’ve kept
That small part
Of me tucked
Right here for
You far away
From them and
When this is
Over I will
Hand it to
You and fly
Away it will
Free except for
Us set free
And one day
After we met
You’re leaving like
A soldier off
To war but
You’re returning right
Your cologne lingers
On my shirt
Like holiday dinners
I won’t wash
It until you
Return reminding me
Of what I
Had for one
Deliciously precious night
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 