This is a poem I wrote and performed about a year after meeting my spouse Susan. I had been on a run of passionate serial monogamy for more than a decade that was both thrilling and devastating. This poem was my swan song to that time, and to "all the girls I'd loved before, who traveled in and out my door..."
Oh the Exes We Know
(with apologies to Dr. Suess)
Oh the places we’ll go
For women to meet
We’ll search high and search low
For the lovers we seek.
Look at her! Look at her!
I’m in for a treat!”
But then, OH NO!
It’s over it ends!
But with brains in our heads and hearts on our sleeves
We pick ourselves up and onward we go!
We can find true love, this we do know.
And our ex list? Well…
It just grows and it grows.
Yes indeed, oh the exes we know.
Take me for example
My story is not at all boring you’ll see.
With brains in my head
And my heart on my sleeve
I’ve steered myself in any direction I please.
I’ve looked down the streets, looked ‘em over with care.
But then that voice in my head says
Oh please don’t go there!
But oh the adventure!
Ignoring that voice I went to those places
I did yes I did!
So many places and so many faces
Now I’m swimming in exes
Drowning in exes
X marks the spot!!
Look at ‘em all!
All those exes I know!!
Why I’d be a hub on the L-Word chart
With reckless abandon I’ve dated them all
Free spirits, control freaks, and cheaters (galore)
Rebounders, questioners, transitioners, and more
Why I’ve even dated a psycho girl… or four.
You too?
But wait! Stop! Stop this poem!
Stop it right now!
Let’s look in the mirror
What do we see?
If we’ve dated problem girls,
Could the problem be we?
So lets quit calling names.
Our exes aren’t evil! Our exes aren’t bad!
They’re just special people we’ve loved and we’ve had.
Please don’t stay mad.
They’re still in our hearts
A part of our past
They’re with us forever.
Love does really last.
Why without naming names
What a treat, what a joy,
There are exes of mine right here in this place.
I see you, I see you, your cute little faces!
Oh thank you! I love you! It was fun while it lasted!
I’m glad we got through it!
I’m glad we got past it!
Yes its true, everybody,
With brains in our heads
And hearts on our sleeves
We’ve steered ourselves through
All those people we choose.
So whatever your fate
Keep your heart open wide
Go out on that date!
It’s worth it all right!
Go find those wild places
With dances and chances
For big new romances (or whatever your wish is)
Bring all the ex memories you’ve lodged in your heart
It’s not too much baggage
Really it’s not
Because as you know
In the end…
Every last ex just helped us to grow.
2005
Love it! Not sure I can completely feel love and compassion for one ex, but maybe some day I will be big enough....
ReplyDeleteamanda