Story of a Life

california girl 

dancing in a red dress

not something a minnesota boy 

could resist 

three children one a baby

later 

she ran off never to be seen again

(later dying alone in her 70s)

looking back 

overwhelmed  in his 20s 

what now to do? 

how does one search for a wife

and mother 

with two kids and a baby? 

then she appeared 

a mere teenager

a good catholic girl 

“3 for 3” she said 

and then there were 

six

but she stayed a teenager

when the older kids were 

out of the house 

he finally divorced her 

now once again

lost and broken 

a domestic failure 

he found his once-in-a-lifetime 

soul-mate 

they grew together for 

40 years 

joined at the hip 

they said 

he cared for during her illness

loved her passionately until 

she died 

now in his 80s 

a woman passed by 

improbably

they clicked 

each with 

that deep passionate 

soul-mate feeling 

once again 

 unpredictably 

from death came life 

a mutual resurrection 

it’s true 

what philosophers 

pundits and theologians preach 

love love love 

yes it’s true 

thanks be 

thanks be.

 

June 1, 2021