Estella

I always know when

I’m about to make a fool

of myself with a woman.

There’s a feeling every man

knows, and few understand, 

an electricity that dances 

around the heart and makes

the heart want to show itself.

I’m too old for this, or, much of

anything…but it’s reassuring

that life doesn’t listen to me

and keeps going on, seducing

me to look at what’s happening,

reminding me of everything I

thought I had forgotten.

I had to wait, to be sure…I

didn’t want to make  fool of

myself unless absolutely necessary….

We had said hello a few times…

I stopped her on the street once,

just to ask her name…she told me,

and then looked at me with a look

that said “That’s it?” 

I need to, at least, ask her out.

Acceptance or rejection are not

the issue. Either way, at least I’ll

know where I stand, and then, 

I can get on with my life.

I may not ever see her again.

In that case. these feelings will

remain on the back burner

forever.