One beautiful Spring evening in 2006, I was walking the downtown mall when a beautiful red-haired, blue-eyed boy made eye-contact with me and smiled as though I were his best friend. He approached me, asked how I was doing, and introduced me to Graham, his black terrier puppy. I was left a bit speechless at his openness and warmth. Consequently, I bid the young man goodnight without even asking his name. Upon arriving at my apartment, haunted by the squandered promise the encounter had held, I wrote the words I had not been able to speak. That night, I posted the completed poem on mall flyer kiosks; I left no contact information; I meant the poem to be a 'thank you' note rather than an invitation. I rationalized the act would be viewed as a sweet gesture by a young man who had approached me with such trust and sincerity. Yet, the next time I saw him, he quickly averted his eyes and walked swiftly past me, a clear indication that my gesture had not been a welcome one.
To The Beautiful Red-Haired, Blue-Eyed Boy With The Puppy Named Graham
I wanted to say
How beautiful
I thought you were,
And relate that,
If I could foretell
The future,
I would walk
Away too soon,
Bidding you a
Polite good night…
Only to return
Not long thereafter
To walk where
You had walked
In the hope that you
Would be braver than I…
And restart a conversation
That would lead to
Common interests,
Shared dreams…
Laughter.
You made my world,
My existence,
More of a joy tonight…
With a simple act
Of kindness.
Through a smile
You bestowed upon me
The gift of a
Renewed faith
In the goodness
That we, as human beings,
Can impart upon
One another.
Thank you.