the world as we wish it were

        1 (Thesis) 

                    We go to the same café 

as the twelve-step coffee drinkers.

                    A new one today: young, shaky, 

purple hair. Already, she smiles well. 

                    The hair will go soon, 

the smudged look in her eyes will 

                    slowly drain away. 

I’ve seen it all before: 

                    what happens, mother, 

when they finally do stop. 

 

        2 (Antithesis) 

                    In the room where the friends meet, 

the thirteen-year-old boy sprawls. 

                    While the grown-ups talk, 

he eats three Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups 

                    in search of just the right amount 

of sweetness. Only then, 

                    does he let himself fall asleep 

as we go on worrying aloud 

                    about the world. 

We stare at him as we speak, 

                    as those who are lonely 

will stare into a fire late at night, 

                    the world as we wish it were. 

 

        3 (Synthesis) 

 

                    Each song on the CD 

 

more sad than the one before. 

                    I need to remember 

I’m not the first, won’t be the last. 

[Jim Moore {1943- } 'Not Taking It Personally', from Invisible Strings]