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
So we met
At long last
Two men together
As friends we
Dined and drank
Laughed and listened
Talked and wished
But all we
Were were children
Playing at beach
Trucks and bulldozers
Laying a foundation
That not even
The days tides
Could wash away
That is us
Children around each
Other simply dreaming
And just like
A sweet apricot
His dog River
Leaps and laps
On couch and
Face loving me
As I enter
Dogs are sweet
Creatures that always
Forgive the trespasses
Befalling them unlike
Us that seem
To carry the
Heavy bags of
Our past into
Our new relationships
Let you and
I check our
Bags at the
Door and start
Something fresh for
Aren’t that we
Simply something new
Listen I’m a
Lover I live
To love with
No expectation of
Return yes I’m
Often passed by
But sometimes someone
Stops for awhile
I don’t hurt
When I give
I hurt when
I withhold it
Let me love
You and let’s
See where that
Takes us just
You and me
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 