GIFT FOR MY BELOVED
Knowing that you were a person with special tastes,
I commissioned a cadre of shoppers post-haste;
My only edict for this eminent envoy:
Find something my darling delightful can enjoy!
They brought me perfume—“No, that’ll make her wheeze!”
And candies and condiments but no Wisconsin cheese.
Then black lingerie—–“No, she is too modest.”
And diamonds and jewelry fit for a goddess—–
“No, she doesn’t go in for pretentious things.”
It’s just simple, creative, original items;
Those that are practical, tactical, vital….”
They threw up their hands and frowned for a minute
But you could sure tell their hearts were still in it.
A cuddly pet? No, she already has one.
Or pro tennis lessons? Not her kind of fun.
So, what about a car, a red one, a fast one?
Or endangered species and maybe the last one?
No, nothing that’s radical, exotic, arcane;
Just something that’s pleasant, tasteful or plain.
A Caribbean cruise? No, she would be nauseous!
Well, white water rafting? No, she is too cautious!
So, what then: a trip to Mackinac Island?
A balloon ride? A bike tour of Scotland, the Highlands?
She doesn’t do heights and her knee wouldn’t take it;
But she’s so gracious, I bet she would fake it.
No, you’ve got to do better than what you have done!
Something sunny and warm and restful and fun:
An evening luau on Tahiti or Maui?
No, tropical bugs give her too many owies.
Then deep scuba diving for old pirate plunder!
It might be fun, but she wouldn’t go under.
Then manicure, pedicure, makeover, doo,
Body wrap, laser zap, bikini wax too!
“Too frivolous and selfish!” she outright declares.
“Nobody notices; nobody cares.”
Well then, a good book or gourmet cuisine!
If she reads, she’s asleep; no carbs, just protein.
Well, designer coffee to drink on her breaks!
No, she works straight through and gets java shakes.
A fine Chinese restaurant with healthy green tea?
No! she gets diarrhea with MSG!
Exasperated, berated, inundated they stood;
Still searching their minds for your greater good.
“Sacrilegious! Egregious!” They were haunted!
Vexed and perplexed and tortured and daunted.
Well, what could she like, this impossible person?
For we are confounded and one step from cursing!
A sunset, a moonrise, a small child, a baby;
A promise that’s honored and not just a “maybe.”
A kiss and a hug that say, “right now and always.”
Or just holding hands, sitting close to the fireplace.
Eating asparagus and watching old TV shows;
Explaining to me all the things I don’t know.
Telling me about the patient that died:
How she did all she could; how she hurt, how she cried.
Kind words and courtesies, unselfish acts,
Truth and nobility, duty and facts.
Wow! What an order! And, sure, who could fill it?
Analyze, synthesize or pray distill it?
Your tastes are not whetted by the glitzy, the bawdy,
The temporal, the urbane, the stylish, the gaudy.
And realizing that, I said I would show ‘em
And sat down and penned your gift, this poem!
By Mark Howard Bowles © 2017