Guesses.... Poem by RIC BASTASA

must i have to pretend
that the first one was true?

could be, most likely
could be, i nodded and then

i too, shook my head,
but granting

you think that it was true
and i must believe you

and then it was over
and then came the second time

just a game, people play games,
like kids, could be one of those games

i play, and i want to quit, but who can?
and it was over, and we want to forget it

just the same, the third one came
and with more experience

more meanings are tried to be
attached, like some strings,

and again, like all things with ends,
it too was over, we got it over and over again

and then, just like old things, we forget,
we tried to remember, but powerless

are we, we are not quitters, we are winners,
we keep saying, we are winners,

and then gray hairs occupied our
black territories, and then

we surrender, we accept, we forget
and we try to remember again

everything is over, like a game,
everything ends, like the world,

like life, befriending death
befriending everybody, saying yes and yes

and yes, and then we approach
the bed, and utter the last word,

thanks, it is over.
now, shall you leave me? i am at rest.