Jack Harvey writes

College Days

Why hi, beautiful,

hi again and again,

don't you remember

how much I loved you?

How could you not know?

I whistled after you

in the street

time after time,

and you never even blinked,

never even a wink

to lure me on,

encourage me

to make some crazy affirmation.

I gave up my braces

and my teeth stayed crooked;

who cared?

I threw my studious life

and future promise,

no small thing,

down the river

when you rode off

with some college-clad rower;

who cared?

I loved you, I loved

who you were when

you first tripped my heart

and I fell like

a bird from a bower.

Here I am still,

take me for what I am,

no beast, no beauty,

no captain of the crew,

no quirky scholar;

just a guy under the light

at the end of the street,

at the end of his tether

spotlighted, eaten alive

by his love for you, burning

for beautiful you;

by his love consumed.

In plain sight

take me for what I am

and what you owe me.

 -- Merle Johnson