Would I pass by
a friendly passer-by
who smiled,
first,
at me
and,
when I tipped my hat,
she dropped her eyes,
coquettishly,
looked back up
to smile
again
at me,
a glance,
this time with more

significance

in her bright, white-teeth look
and a gleam in her eyes,
a slight flirt,
now,
an invite to continue,
to take a chance on this
chance encounter
on this warm-Winter,
Wilmington night?

Well,

forty years ago,
without my love-wife of these many years
waiting in our car for me,
and
without the natural and even acceptable
devolving pathology of my 70 year old
anatomy and physiology,

there would have come an,
“Evening! Lovely night!”
from my lips,
quicker than a Carolina Chickadee
flits to the sunflower-seed-feeder
hanging in my back yard.

But,

tonight,

none of that is in play.

For I
am
walking to my Honda and
my patient, happy wife.

I’ve finished,
finally,
with the necessity-pee-stop
at Botteca
before we make the hand-holding drive to
Southport and
warm bed.

Yep!

I’d just saunter
right past
that tempting stranger.

Caressing my soul
with the contentment
and content
of a
forgiven,
blessed
and
happily married
life.