Fruitless

Carry On Tuesday Prompt #63 is from the poetry of Kahlil Gibran:
"Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit."

Fruitless
Like a tree without blossoms
or fruit, I ponder days and
years without our lives entwined--
budding forth on airy branches,
round with sweetness and clarity.

What would be if your brother had not dated
my friend, if they had not plotted our first
meeting as I watched you balance ice cream spoons
on your nose, as I peeked through my fingers at the
Dirty Harry movie which ended with the
bad dude impaled on a carousel. I hid my face
in your warm shoulder, expectant.

What would be if, shyly, you had not called
the next day, apologetic for not purchasing
my movie ticket, embarrassed at conspiracy of
brother and his girlfriend, not realizing until
too late that our meeting was a "date,"
not just evening out the couples,
as they had said, but asking me out
again anyway.

What would be if we hadn't talked for hours,
the pizza cooling while we opened our doors a crack,
catching glimpses into each others' lives,
then another date set.
What would be if you at twenty-four
hadn't pursued me at seventeen--
if you hadn't asked me four months later,
if I hadn't answered your tremulous question
with "yes."

Copyright 2010 by Susanne Barrett