Hanging up, I thought then, at that instant,
because I was absolutely sure, 19-year old certain,
the world would be shot full of wonder, amazement,
one of those kaleidoscope tubes, bursting all around me.
Not the dull, old peep-hole experience. This would be
a multi-colored everything everywhere extravaganza . . .
Is what I knew, caressing the receiver into the cradle,
I’d be saying, screaming, in three brief weeks,
on Valentine’s Day. This was no fervent hope;
this was a fervent slam dunk surety.
Yeah, Baby, roses, yes, chocolate, check,
dinner at the Hau Tree Lānai,
dancing at Bobby McGee’s.
You know those rocking high hopes, right?
Lanning Lee 