The Date Poem by RIC BASTASA

she picks you with her car
and asks you to drive it for her
you are going
to a place where she is known to be a star
a patroness of the arts
there you listen
to independent women singing their songs
of liberty
how they map out their destiny
without their men anymore

at first you like the light beer
and the electric guitar
and the drums and tambourines
you begin to like to the voices
of hope and

independence, and a weary-free life
you begin to love the night
with her
you notice how tight her skin is
how shiny her red lips
like tulips

you tell yourself you love life now
you like nights

then you ask something that you know she also likes to give
she says no
for a while, and you know that she means she loves you too
like she wants
to be back to her heydays

both of you
just you and her

whatever happened? nothing happened
it is late in the morning
and you did not have the soundest sleep that you needed most

but you thank God just the same
you still have
your mind in total peace, unshattered, unbowed, unbeaten