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Room With a View

by Dave Ruskjer

By Dave RuskjerPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
Ananda and Pepper

I visit this room, oh, at least once a day --

Not a temple or shrine, but it does have a way

Of enticing my spirit … to come out to play …

From the hallway there's nothing I see by the door

That would cause me to think there was stuff to explore

But methinks to this story there's probably more …

I knock on the door, though I know no one's there.

There's been no new activity … no one to share

The day-to-day banter, each day-to-day care …

Still the room exudes magic, a presence I feel

It's dark. I've got goose bumps. It all feels surreal --

Not scary at all, rather mostly appeal …

It's totally dark as the room starts to freeze

Or, at least, I perceive it's dropped sev'ral degrees

Not uncomf'ter'bly cold, just a cool, breezy breeze …

First a flash. Then a boom! Then a starburst so bright

That it fills the whole sky with gold, sparkling light!

Somehow sky in a room doesn't feel all that right …

As the sparkles descend (I would think they'd go out.)

But they don't. They, instead, seem to flicker about --

But with purpose. They're headed towards me -- there's no doubt!

The first ones approach me -- they glow different hues --

Some pink, others purple -- perhaps these are clues

To some thought or some feeling from yesterday's news.

They're aiming, but missing -- still coming so close!

This colorful autobahn -- tends to engross.

I'm almost in overwhelm -- near comatose …

Then sudd'nly one hits me flat square in the face

It's instantly blacker than black in this space.

I get the impression it's some other place.

It is. I'm outside on the sidewalk with you.

Hawaii, Kauai, down south towards Poipu …

There's something, you say, that you'd like me to do.

You ask, "Would you be--," then you pause for a beat --

"Willing to have," as you shuffle your feet,

"An honest relationship?" Serious. So sweet.

"Honest?" I question. "Like, how do you mean?"

Some honesty's probably close to obscene.

You show me a book that you doubt that I've seen.

"Here, read this. Then Monday I'll ask you again."

The book, titled Honesty, looked rather thin.

I reached out to take it. Your hand brushed my skin …

Suffice it to say, I was hooked. We were on.

It was shortly thereafter we talked until dawn.

The scene fades to black. I'm alone. You are gone …

Each burst starts the same with a colorful hue --

Different colors each session -- all facets of "You."

If you asked me to stop, I wouldn't know what to do …

The time at your brother's (you know, with the Wii)

Or north at your parents, when you let me see

Your drawings -- self-portraits -- you gave one to me …

The time we got back the CDs that you lost,

That couldn't be replaced, no, regardless of cost,

Would have probably ended eventually tossed …

Or the time we went boating with out-of-town friends

I had met on a cruise and the guy gets the bends

Or the heaves or the heave to's -- bad times it portends …

In Berkeley the evening we spent on the town

Window shopping. (Remember that "diamond" we found?)

Going nowhere, enjoy'ng just walking around …

At Hayward's. You kissing that poor poodle. Oh no!

I've got pictures to prove it. The dog says it's so!

Maybe Smooches kissed you -- that would be apropos …

In Japan town (in San Fran), karaoke 'til ten

You and Mari-chan dancing, each sporting a grin

Hitting Apple stores (plural), those slick goods within …

I'll never forget when you uttered the phrase

From The Wizard of Oz, with her broomstick ablaze --

Witch scaring the Scarecrow who sees his last days …

Each sparkle produces a moment in time

I can savor anew -- especially when I'm

Needing comfort and joy while I'm doing my dime.

This room's in my heart and it always will be

Exclusively there just for you and for me.

You may make an appearance … I hope -- we'll just see …

heartbreak

About the Creator

Dave Ruskjer

Communications Concentration from Andrews University, living in Lakeland, Florida

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