Mother told me...

After a two week break
the poets are arriving 
at the pub door, eager 
to mingle with good cheer 
and hopes for the New Year...
stop in and read their poetry over at dversepoets.com

         ~
Mother said it's possible to love
more than one man in a lifetime -
the romantic in me disagreed,
but I loved them distinctly;
Each relationship had it's own flavor,
a song all it's own
Youthful senses, 
previously unknown, 
rushed love in with new kisses
(he's the one, it will last forever)
I won't get into the Prince Charming
thing, not here - but it helps
to know one's learning curve,
as in driving lessons,
or a growth chart -
from quick embraces in a church,
withered prom corsages,
wearing his class ring, and
notes passed in class
to beehive hair - too bad

Bouquet of tender mint blossoms,
a solo saxophone;
a falling in, like a tree into soft earth,
the miracle of kindling lit,
Burning slowly,
greenish blue to white,
reaching altitudes untraveled
where words take flight
The taste of honey recalls 
the hay in my hair,
horse nostrils at a county fair,
Tragedy spent some time, 
adding lines to my face 
as did laughter and mirth
Reaching for the moon,
we caught star after star;
for drama, and operatic measure,
there were lots of tests,
of time, maturity and trust -
A dozen red roses on my 50th
I won't say how many good men,
but less than 7 and more than 3,
then there is fate

Each interlude had it's allure,
a chain of hearts beating,
poised for romance forever
promises, comfortableness;
Bundles of feelings at stake,
and nowhere to go -                                      
early longing like 
the chartreuse weeping willow tree,
then the explosions of many suns
and ecstasy, not unlike
the gap between
dreams and reality
Long term is the meaning implied,
not sewing seams with uneven
ragged edges, but like
a wool sweater knit over time -

Nurturing skills learned 
make more room in the heart
for love to grow, exponentially -
Would it be to have had thousands 
of hand sewn days and nights together,
one soulmate,
creating a home for longevity
becoming a finished piece of work,
adorned with it's sublime shining 
threads of love's cooled embers,
fraught with a grown woman's passion
..it was not meant for me