I

might

–

–

have

noticed

.

t

h

e

.

smile

behind

–

– 

your

eyes . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

the

promise
–

–

behind

.

t

h

e

.

smile . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

it

was

.

t

h

e

.

shy 

goodbye

–

–

that

brought

.

t

h

e

.

tear

.

t

o

.

my

eye . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

~ the

shy

goodbye

–

–

which

absorbed

.

m

y

.

mind . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

haunted

.

m

y

.

hindsight . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

it

made

.

m

e

. 

realize,

–

–

you

were

.

y

e

t

.

another

twilight

–

–

I

did

.

n

o

t

.

recognize . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

~ another

–

–

deeply

dawning,

–

–

starlit

sky

.

o

f

.

lost 

opportunity

–

–

gone

by.

Reflection:  

This poem was written as a reflection on missed romantic opportunities. I had so many of those earlier in my life that in order to overcome my shy nature with respect to initiating conversations with others I did not know, I created and adopted the expression: “I’d rather try than be haunted by…” because the potential discomfort and awkwardness of trying and getting shunned was less painful than the haunting, restless thoughts of what might have been. So, it reminded me to always make my best effort no matter how awkward it might seem.

Now, the flip side of this was that I got so good at it that I ended up with a lot of acquaintances but not much more. So, several years later, I penned the line: “fewer, deeper” as my mantra to remind me to focus on a select few to have deeper relationships with.