Justin Hamm’s speaker confronts an insecurity common to many men and women.
—
In Case You Were Wondering
what I was thinking
that blazing afternoon in August
when suddenly I put down
my book
and looked over at you leaning
elbows on the porch rail
fitter and wiser and infinitely
more patient
than when you were twenty-two.
I was overcome in that moment
with all you’d become
and I wondered if you felt the same
way about me
and my heap of books
on blind bluesmen and manners
in 17th century France
or if you secretly liked me
better when I was younger
and spoke in that big
foolish beer voice
that carried and made people laugh
two rooms over
and I tried in all sincerity
to hunt the wild turkey
armed only with a laundry sack
and the charm of all the things
I didn’t know.
***
Interested in submitting poetry to The Good Men Project? Check out our guidelines.
Like The Good Men Project on Facebook
Photo by FaceMePLS /Flickr