Long After Retirement

For Red Perkins

I will tell all of the ladies that you were meditating not sleeping

When I arrived during newspaper time while volunteer Samuel

In his muscle shirt was busy doing his vaudeville of the

Headline that read Is Today’s Internet Dating Yesterday's Town Social?

And the half-attentive audience murmured reference to their day

When girls and boys once flirted from across dance floors, fairgrounds.

Yes, that is what I will tell these fragile flowers, meditating; you will sound

So much more enlightened, even mysterious, worthy of a first dance;

Better than the truth that your cancer medication had you bobbing

Like some red beaked drinking bird during arm raises

Which lead to slumping at the activities announcement

And to near snoring among the daily news.

But you will not recall this as I have come to visit you

And you work repeatedly to remember how long it has been and I, 

still remembering a son’s love, do not have the heart

To remind you that it was you who left the conversation years ago.

For in this moment, at least one of us understands, that there is only this moment

And that all moments of before are now but shadows in a gentleman’s mist.

A meditative Casanova, the contemplative Flynn, why, you will be the talk

Among this winter hen house which, as I look around, is not far from accurate

As the y chromosomes seem to lose ground here

In these late chapters of life’s journey, when all men are reduced,

Becoming similar shapes, the same surprised eyes

The same bent expression of his-story