Once I Saw This Movie
by Paul Maggi
It had actors and scenery
And the dialog was real
But the story was dumb.
It was about a guy who
Lost this diamond ring
And the gangster he was
Holding it for came looking
For it but the guy couldn't
Give it back, so he ran
Away to Canada to hide.
And I thought, Why would
He go to Canada? Why not
Mexico? At least it's warm
There and he could get cheap
Booze and cheap women to
Take his mind off the hit man
After him. But he went to
Canada instead, so I didn't
Wait to see what happened
I just turned off the TV and
Picked up the telephone.
I called because I hadn't spoken
To Devon in what seemed like
Years and I couldn't take it
Anymore but she wasn't home
And the phone rang and rang
So I hung up like that would
Make me feel better somehow
But it didn't and I turned on the
Television after a little while
And smoked the last cigarette
Without paying attention.
And then just as I mashed out
The butt, the phone rang and it
Was her but she had nothing
To say in particular except
That it was getting late and she
Would have to go soon and that
Was OK with me. I never really
Care what we talk about—it's
Not the conversation that matters
Sometimes speech is not even
Needed to say what I want.
Like now as I sit here removed
From that moment that never
Even happened, I get the feeling
She is reading this now before
It's done though I know she can't
And I'm glad because if it
Were true, I wouldn't see her
Eyes scan the words, then look at
Me when she comes across a line
That has a meaning only she could
Appreciate what I actually mean.
This time it's real, it's happening
To us—both of us—at the same time
Other times it was me, usually
While I slept but it's all real now
Because I can taste her in the air,
Like the time we were at the pool
Table and she walked past me,
Up to me, and it was a cartoon,
Aroma hands caressed my cheeks
And tickled my chin and ran
Transparent fingers urging me on.
Or when I drove her all day and
She leaned in at all those red
Lights like I remember, now that she
Brings it to my mind, I could feel
Her lips and tongue, my hair stand
While she nibbles like it was a game
I will win this round, this time
It feels like I did already when I see
Her pick me out of the crowd, sing
To me or when she looks back at me
From the other side of her linguine.
It's only been a week and already
I can tell it will never end, and that it
Never really has even though
It's new now after so many months
Without excitement, anxiety, hope
For a kiss, hug, touch, lick or suck,
So familiar and I know that this is
How it has to be, that time, distance
Can not get in the way or push away
Or sweep us off our feet, but
It only makes us grow old together.
Copyright © Paul Maggi 2003
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