Bruce Bennett

Lost and Found 
 
It was her birthday. Finally, he thought,
the time has come. I’ll finally get in touch.
For years he had not thought about her much,
occasionally wishing they had caught
up on their lives, their families. A link,
and there she was, familiar, in the guise
of someone older he could recognize—
in her obituary. Did he think
he could wait decades and she’d still be there,
accommodating, game, that comrade he
knew as a boon companion who would share
adventurous misadventures, until she
thought better of it, and struck out alone –
brave, reckless – on a new life of her own?

Oh, they had reconciled and were friends,
but went their ways. Life happened, as it does,
too fast, too headlong, to keep it as it was
in any way. We round too many bends,
leave far too much behind. Choosing to wait,
he lost what they could easily have had:
a bond of friendship. Now, remorseful, sad,
he had to face the obvious, too late.
We have to act while we still have the chance.
That passes. Then what’s possible is lost.
The band plays on. We’re caught up in our dance.
Lose track of time. Don’t think about the cost.

He gazes at her picture. Smiling. Calm.
Ironic? Maybe. It provides no balm.  


Payback
After “Tree At My Window,” Robert Frost 
 
Squirrel at my feeder, feeder squirrel,
I hate how you climb and claim the seed,
As if it was yours and you had need,
You thievish churl.

I hate how you twitch and twirl your tail,
Then leap and cling and make the birds scatter!
I’ve watched you as you have grown fatter and fatter.
You never fail!

But, squirrel, I have got a plan that will work.
They make contraptions that twirl, then flip
Unwary squirrels on a flying trip
That wipes off their smirk!

Your raids at the feeder will shortly end.
Yes, Bye Bye you’ll go. Like a rocket or jet
You’ll soar on a journey you won’t forget,
My conniving friend!

 

Bruce Bennett is the author of ten full-length collections of poetry and more than thirty poetry chapbooks. He taught English and American Literature and Creative Writing and directed the Visiting Writers Series at Wells College from 1973 until his retirement in 2014, and is now Emeritus Professor of English. His poetry website is https://justanotherdayinjustourtown.com