C.J. Heck - A Man I Knew

There was a man I knew
and just knowing him
made me think of poetry.

Loving him, I learned
that accepting love
is as important as giving it

and the not-so-subtle difference
between loving lukewarm
and loving red-hot.

Love like that
can make you stupid -
a total-immersion kind of stupid,
but it made me want
to read poetry.

In a different time
and a different place
it might have worked

but it was over
and when the last page was turned
he was only a man I knew

no regrets
just one perfect memory
and because I loved him
I write poetry.

C.J. Heck

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-man-i-knew/