I've Been to the Mountaintop

Though we won't officially observe it until Monday, a great man would have turned 80 today.  These were his last words.  He was shot and killed the following day.

Jujubee

You are not a suitable mate--

not at all--

but no bother;

I have improved you in my head.

You can keep your rosy brunette and also those tongue-in-cheek shades

that could be Prada or Frada.

Keep your books too because it's hard to knock a girl who reads Tolkien.

And, though it's trite, I hope you will keep your smile

as I have sometimes imagined us in the kitchen with wine,

and I've said something charming,

lazily embracing as they do in films.

You would chuckle behind your lips and toss back your eyes

and I might tease you lightly under your ribs.

The moment would be quick and tricky,

but soon our views would cross and lock

leaving us to balance on nothing but each other.

Your lips would part to draw a nervous breath,

as if to mean "I love you,"

and my heart would stop its beat to listen.

And then a smile,

slowly warming the space between us,

that says "you already know."

Keep these things but discard the others.