Intimacy and Time
Sure, I remember intimacy.
Candlelight,
Ben Webster softly in the background,
fire crackling warmly.
A fine wine reflected red
on a white linen cloth.
Quiet voices avoiding
breaking the embracing spell.
Rewarding intimacy
sought but rarely found.
But, remembered for sure!
Intimate eyes,
telling nods,
understood smiles,
warm touches,
and near-cooing voice.
Oh yes, I do remember!
Then just the other day
I saw a young woman sitting
on a bench.
In her hand was a Blackberry
and she tapped away.
The next day it was a young man
with a cell phone in his ear.
I saw in both, tender eyes,
knowing nods,
inviting smiles,
and I wondered!
No Ben Webster in the background.
No candles or white tablecloth.
The only thing that the hands touched
was cold black plastic.
But there were the defining
marks of intimacy.
What is this?
It sure is not the intimacy I remember.
I puzzled for a week.
Through my head ran thoughts
of the demise of our civilization.
What are we coming to with all
these electronic toys?
And yet that look of successful connections
to intimacy.
Could it be?
Could it be that the essence
of intimacy is just communications
with other humans?
If that is it, we have a leap forward
in our pursuit of intimacy.
For the young communicate 24/7.
Progress comes in many forms, huh?
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