How late in life they met
romantic broken like branches
in an indifferent storm
too many harsh winters
and less than satisfying summers
both with drinks in hand
“I have a mountain of regrets,”
she said, looking upward,
“I have an ocean of regrets,”
he said, looking downward
she had a gun, he a knife,
a bad film noir, certainly,
but in a different time and place
it could have been love
but instead they exchanged weapons
laughed about regrets
drank even more
words tumbled out of their thoughts
there was lovemaking
there was senseless talk of a future
the past kept intruding
like those harsh winters
and less than satisfying summers
one almost smiled
the other cried
each became the other's past.
Accent · Issue Two · 09 of 15
In a Different Time and Place, It Could Have Been Love, but Instead…
J.J. SteinfeldCanada
Previously published in Somewhat Absurd, Somehow Existential (Guernica Editions, 2021). Used by permission of the author.
J.J. SteinfeldCanada
Canadian poet, fiction writer and playwright J. J. Steinfeld lives on Prince Edward Island, where he is patiently waiting for Godot’s arrival and a phone call from Kafka. While waiting, he has published 25 books, including An Unauthorized Biography of Being, A Visit to the Kafka Café, Gregor Samsa Was Never in The Beatles, Somewhat Absurd, Somehow Existential, and As You Continue to Wait.