Notes About The Poem

Dedicated to John Spencer, wherever he may be. 

For Dilly Dally's Ephemera Poetry Contest

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John's Visit: Ephemera theme

Edit on line 7

There he was – my first boyfriend ever -
leaning against the sports car of a friend who drove him
over to my town to see me before I left for college
even though we had broken up a few years back.

I had met him at church camp several years earlier -
John, with that cute elfin face,
legs like matchsticks that seemed half as wide as mine
and the sweet sensitive nature
of a kid who worried so much about his parents’ marriage
he’d already developed ulcers at age 14.

He was looking kind of cool, wearing silver tinted shades
that didn’t allow me to see his baby blues beneath them
as he leaned against that sweet ride, smiled and said so little.
I later learned his parents had split up,
but not one friend of his whom I asked 
could tell me where John ended up.

I google him; I search on Facebook; still I can’t find him.
That unexpected visit – not so important then -
has become one more of the many ephemera
in the sum total of my long-traveled life.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Narain Avatar
April 24, 2024 at 11:49 AM
Nice nostalgic poem. GL in contest.
La France Avatar
April 24, 2024 at 7:32 AM
Andrea, a touching write of a memory fleeting, love your poem, best of luck in the contest, Constance
Jayasankar Avatar
April 24, 2024 at 2:22 AM
Beautiful memories of your boyfriend dear sweet Ria... Hope you are doing great... Best wishes for the contest... Hugs... ~ Ani
Schatz Avatar
April 23, 2024 at 10:19 PM
So touching and endearing Andrea. I love how you describe his "cool," and that developing ulcers from worrying about his parents' marriage conferred a sweet sensitive nature.
Kendrick Avatar
April 23, 2024 at 2:18 PM
I agree that in life we do have these events or even just moments that are here then gone. I enjoyed reading this one today. Thank you for sharing this one with us. Your visit was uplifting. Sara K
Dietrich Avatar
April 23, 2024 at 3:18 PM
Thanks, Sara. I hope a visit counts as ephemera
Allison Avatar
April 23, 2024 at 1:35 PM
aww such memories, it would be lovely to know what happened to him Andrea:-) hugs Jan xx
Dietrich Avatar
April 23, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Yes. It would be so nice to know. But maybe better not to if all his stress led to something tragic
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