Single Poem by Alexander Shaumyan

He's in his 40s and never married,
Never had the pleasure of
Fathering a child or having
A long-term relationship,
Living with a woman under
The same roof, maybe he's gay
Or just plain eccentric,
Not knowing how to relate
To his social world,
But I've stopped trying to live up
To what a normal guy in his 40s
Should be like, for
So many creative people were
Often loners or unhappy in love,
Expressing their sadness through
Their art - just look at
Van Gogh or Emily Dickinson
And countless others -
So I'm not worried
What others think of my
Bachelor lifestyle,
For I enjoy my freedom
Of having to answer to nobody,
Of not being stuck in some
Marriage just because it's
Comfortable or because
Of the kids, for I've seen
Too many fatherless kids,
Too many divorces, too
Many women abused by
Their husbands, too many
Cheating partners and
Too much dishonesty,
Too many people searching
For greener pastures of
Newer relationships with
Younger or more exciting
Partners, but I don't mind
Being single, answering
To myself alone -
It is by far better than feeling
Alone with someone else,
Staying in a destructive
Relationship, pretending things
Are going well - because
When I say I love you,
I mean that I love you,
Darling, and I do not believe
In any 'soul twins', or 'one light'
Or some other 'divine union' -
Whatever the hell it is -
For I believe in honesty
And tenderness between
Two people, who choose to
Be together, not some polyamory
Or open marriage, or some other
Alternative lifestyles with
Different sexes -
No, I believe in us and the things
That we have in common,
For I do not seek perfection,
Only the happiness of sharing
Myself with you if you want it.


March 15,2006