She was a brief dalliance
whose memory stalked me for years
What else could explain
my remembrance and tears
On entering my life
in a netherworld between boyhood and man
My hope was to meet and to love
someone better than


The rest of the lot I had loved
left out the back of a tent
In the shadows of bars, clubs,
and the beaches where I went


Her love was a brief dalliance
to which I had never committed
Never knowing for sure if
from her life I'd been omitted
Or otherwise dropped,
eschewed, and rejected
To spend decades of conflict
in pursuit of infected
Beauties bound to lives
of misery, complaints, and pain
Women of little substance
and intelligence though vain.


My lust was a mere dalliance
and attempt to uncover the truth
From the mundane pursuits
of my misguided youth


While seeking solace
in the arms of an appreciative lover
Whom I needed to offer
assistance and help me get over
The hurt of lies, accusations,
arrogance, and sarcasm
While biding my time
to succeed in a mutual orgasm


My life is a mere dalliance
to a better destination
The players in which
have emotional constipation
That blocks them from feeling
the joy in the living
A life full of challenge,
satisfaction and giving
To the ones we love most
without any pretension


Accepting life's lot
without apprehension



Jim Ganley
New Hampshire, USA

Copyright © Jim Ganley, All rights reserved

Printed here with express written permission from copyright holder