collage

before me lies a collage of pics

of ancient childhoods and long lives lived

black and white images of love once young

people, once together, now far flung

before me lies a collage of pics

it glosses over hurts that time can’t fix

showin me only times when all was right

there are no pics of the many loveless fights

or the the times we cursed and shouted

and hurt each other with things unsaid

or the times that people wished

someone or the other was dead

before me gathers a collage of pics

as i see lives even now being lived

some relationships clearly under the weather

unhappy families struggling to hold it together

people being miffed and feeling hurt

dreams being ground into the dirt

perverted fantasies being lived out in others’ lives

husbands going fat and disenchanted wives

paths being chosen and destinies being written

disillusioned youngsters and old hearts smitten

realizations about passions and true callings

people speaking out and inhibitions falling

people standing by you on your bad days

with inane words and silences profound

and I’m surprised at how there’s always

enough love to go around