An Uncharted Wilderness Poem by Charles Chaim Wax

“How could you love such a man? ” I asked Kate Hixon
as she sat slumped on the couch in the Teacher’s Center.
“All he does is take your money
and ask for more to buy presents
for that other women and you comply.”
I paused stared
wanting to ease Kate’s pain
trying to be a half way decent Buddhist
yet not having enough wisdom or serenity
finally sighed said sadly,
“After all these years still no marriage ring. Why? ”
“Bernstein, ” she said, “I’ve asked that question for nine years
and don’t have an answer.
Perhaps his blue eyes suggested a purity
beneath that cardboard exterior
and I was the one to bring forth
this new man. He wears
a long mustache tapered to points
and is immensely powerful. His hands
can literally crush a watermelon to bits
yet his touch…so gentle.
Possibly this contradiction
intrigued me. As you can see
I’m merely grasping at straws.
I would have done anything for him.
I did!
but all my efforts failed.
He fancied himself a director.
Did you ever see Taboo? ”
“Murnau’s film? a story of the South Seas.”
Kate stared. Thinking. Finally asking, “Murnau? ”
“A love story. Can’t remember if it had a happy ending.”
Continuing not interested in Murnau,
“I was given the staring role.
He wrote the dialogue.
Unfortunately the man
doesn’t have a modicum of talent...”
“How could a woman
as gifted as yourself fall for this bozo? ” I asked.
“My shrink said I’m attracted to men
who will never love me
because I missed
the experience of intimacy
as an infant.
Now I’ll have you know
this so called brilliant therapist
was later convicted of Medicare fraud...”