just suppose:
if all the people
alive and dead
you’d ever loved
and love
starting
with your mum and dad
turned up
in one place
on one day
at one time
and assembled
how much space
would they need?.
………………………
a decent-sized room
at a guess
but then
it depends
on your definition of love
what about all those
whose work you profess
to ‘love’
but have never met
you know:
musicians
singers
writers
artists
film and sports stars
free-thinkers
high-jinksers
include them
and you might need
a small stadium..
,,,,,,,,,
and what a cast eh?
all those grandmas and granddads
aunts and uncles
cousins nieces nephews
and grandchildren
school friends
team-mates
past amours
your present one
the ones that got away
but whose memory lingers.
……….
people glimpsed
but who’ve stuck
in your mind
forever
prima donnas
and those
too big for their boots
despite
or because
of your love..
……..
and when they’ve all gathered
what then?
what will they look like?
as they did then
or as they are
now?
and will they like each other
or even speak?
might they clash
are there old animosities
buried and unbeknown to you?
will it become
an unpleasant shock
to meet again
or an undiluted pleasure?…
………
and what a noise
there’ll be
all that talking
all that reminiscing
some might bring
a ball
or a bat
or a bike
or a banjo
some might sing
or play
or act
or sketch and daub
your mum and dad
might ask
more questions
than you can possibly answer
in fact the whole thing
might be a dream
or bits of.
…….
just suppose
it turns out well
then suppose
it doesn’t
and there’s
an atmosphere
and bad blood
would you rather
it happen
or not?
and what about
these dear ones
from your past
how will they feel
do you suppose?
and how will they
think of you?..
…….
ah
had you thought of that?
and do you suppose
love lasts?
do you?..
………
…….
……..
……….
…………
Jeff Cloves
.