She Didn’t Know My Age
I saw you watching me from across the room.
I don’t know you but, I feel that will change soon.
You look so young. But, then, I can’t judge age.
I just hope we will be on the same page.
Then I think. You don’t know how old I am.
Should I lie about my age or be a man.
Wait!!—–Your starting to walk my way.
Is there something that I should say?
I run through a number of opening lines.
None seem appropriate for this place & time.
Before I can speak you say: “Hi, I’m Sue.”
I’m glad I didn’t speak first & sound like a fool.
I said “Hi Sue”, and I told her my name.
She said “You look like a guy named Wayne.”
“Don’t know him.”, I said with a smile.
“No problem.” She said. “It’s been awhile.”
I said “New place and new times.”
She said “You bet. And it feels fine.”
We started talking over a drink or two.
She liked a lot of things that I did too.
I asked what she was doing here?
She said “Sitting with you having a beer.”
I asked her if she lived here in town.
“You know I do.” She said with a frown.
Concerned, I said “Before this goes too far,
I want to know how young you are?”
“I am young enough to be your daughter.”
“Do you think I look like your father?”
“No. Does the age difference bother you?”
“Only if I look or feel like a fool.”
To this she gave the nicest laugh.
“Don’t worry. I’ll try not to call you pap.”
I laughed too and the night went on.
After awhile we noticed most others were gone.
I asked her if she had a car.
“I didn’t walk here. It’s too far.”
I said I was close. Did she want to follow me home?
“I can do that. It’s better than being alone.”
Later on at my small but, comfortable apartment.
We sat and talked more as my heart went
into double time as she drew close to me.
I said “Just a minute. I have to pee.”
In the bathroom I thought .She doesn’t know my age.
It sounds like we are on the same page.
But, she just doesn’t know my real age.
I returned and said “I have something to say.”
I told her my real age. Thought she would say “No way.”
Instead, she just melted in my arms.
As secure as a calf on the farm.
I haven’t felt this way in years and years.
It was enough to bring me to tears.
I never thought of her as a daughter.
She never said I was her father.
But, we slept all night in each others arms.
Both afraid to move. We both felt safe from harm.
“This will last as long as I am alive.”
She says “Don’t mention it. We have arrived.”
I agreed as I drank tea with honey from sage.
I thought to myself. She didn’t even know my age.
——————————————————-R. W. Johnson—-(2012)