Green Parrots

On the patio I can see the chameleons Their necks so red with lust On the wind the green parrots Call to one another hoping for a place to rest The sky is orange and deep purple with the last whispers of light Twisting the orange peel in my drink thinking of how I felt About all those days we missed, before we saw the truth A home in the South of France with all that money could afford Yet we were so distant like prizefighters circling in the ring Looking for a weakness and then jabbing in for the kill It was painful for both of us, but my God the kids What would they have learned from such broken people? We were once so much in love that nothing could tear us apart Living in Jakarta in a one room windowless flat Even that could not discourage us from a love that always bloomed We strolled in hot humid afternoons dreaming of better days I wiped the perspiration from your brow, you laughed in that silly way The days tumbled by the children came, we were always so very happy Time took its toll and jobs, like the seasons went round Till one day we realized that we were no longer We tried to make it work, for the sake of the kids, but it was a lost cause Even they knew that we were hiding a truth so profound. The lawyers came and took what they could and left us with the rest. There was no malice between us as we smiled, resting gently In each other arms, hoping for a miracle before we were gone. Now, it's the morning of the rest of our lives. I ask you if you want coffee Your look is causal as you say, “If only you had asked me that twenty years ago I would have known what to say.” And so it goes the things we forgot to ask are the things that will haunt us to the very, very end. (thanks to KA for being so generous)