JOYCE by Mark MaxeyA warm fall evening and would have guessed
15 years and you and I meet again
crying as you hugged me
that embrace felt good
first night for me to drive that van
picking up my fellow brothers
and taking them to church
in 15 years I'm still volunteering
198 miles from where we met
I'm an administrator again
and funny you are behind bars again
It seems like yesterday I was picking you up in Tulsa
training you to be a secretary
a new skill for a new life you wanted
what has happened in those 15 years
I met your daughter
a pretty young indian woman
who is about to bring in a new little one for this world
wow...my mind is spinning
me not even a christian now
but I still love to hear those gospel rock songs that are playing tonight
it’s alright
here you are...here I am
and in those tears you shed and loving embrace
was probably the most special thing to me this day
I remember you showed me and told me
of life behind the wire
and damn
10 years ago I found out for myself
but in 15 years since I saw you last
boy have i changed
you are still beautiful
and yes I remember taking you home
and making love to you
even then you questioned if I was gay
and I froze and said
HELL NO
after all you were the first Navaho woman for me to make love too
I couldn't be gay
but I was
15 years later
accepting finally now that I am gay
accepting that like you...I've been on the other side
and what joy it is to see you again
knowing I still have a friend
just now you spoke in church
of your joy in seeing me again
I too am glad
for it is nice to see old faces...old friends
and Yes, Joyce
you’re still beautiful as ever
probably the finest Navaho woman I've ever met
and you are so glad to see me
again...
as spoken by your tears
I've not felt that emotion for years
and yes...
it is nice to sit and let it cover me as a warm blanket
don't know what it means
but damn
it sure feels good
its good to see you again girl
09/17/2004 Posted on 01/27/2005 Copyright © 2024 Mark Maxey
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