The moment I walked away
from a dance with her
was the exact point in time
when everything started going wrong
and it’s been one long, slow decline
ever since that night
twentysomething years ago
that I still remember
as if it were yesterday
Ancient history, I’m sure
and not usually something I think about
But someone found a memory,
sent it off my way,
and now I’m sifting through
the remains of all that was
that we long left behind
looking for the lessons
I was meant to learn back then
Because I keep on repeating
such similar mistakes,
echoes through the timestream
of failing then to understand
the meaning of the situation
the opportunity presented
and the ability to set aside
the silly little fantasies
that fill my head so quickly
and just live in the moment
Maybe it goes back even further
to a beach walk in the rain
or maybe I’m just overthinking
times best left undisturbed
trying to recapture
that which I’ve been chasing
since that rainy afternoon…