Penny's Inbox
To: Penny
From: Stan
Subject : Pish?
  Pish, eh? I could answer with words explosively rude,
Sarky and crude as you like, but I'm not in the mood.
Natalia is hunched at the end of the bed, almost nude,
Trimming her toenails, so concentrated. A woman
Can be so complete in herself, so - just so human.
It's unpressurised minutes like this that I treasure,
Of pure easy pleasure too fleeting to measure.
Well, once I was happily close to you, too.
I'm watching Natalia, but I'm thinking of you.

There are moments I'd like to relive, to recapture. One kiss
Especially. I know that we kissed. I know bliss
Of some sort occurred; I've a diary that reads: "This
Was an evening of bliss! That kiss!" with no further clue -
But what was the context? I don't recall. Would you?
What was the look in your eye? What did you wear?
Was that before or after you cut your hair?
This morning will vanish too. Mornings do.
I reach to touch Natalia, but I'm thinking of you.

I reach out to touch Natalia knowing
This beautiful toe-trimming moment is going
Where all moments go, that it's fast flowing
To the dark dumb sea of not-knowing. It won't be spared
Any more than the good days you and I shared.
Because there were good days. There must have been.
I try to imprint a detailed picture of this scene
Unerasably in my mind. I try to.
But as I watch Natalia, I'm thinking of you.