the gamble

You released your ambitions
to stay with the girl
in the green overall shorts
who moved through life
like the orange, yellow, and blue
pattern swirling and twirling
across her tie-dyed shirt.
You exchanged a dream,
pursued for years,
to stay with the girl,
no guarantees.
I wore your decision
like a heavy chain,
my soul weighted by the what ifs.
What if…
we fell out of love?
you regretted your choice?
you resented me?
Not now, not in a year,
but down the road
when the delights of new love
morph into routine, habits, and ruts.
White static suffocates
your replies,
(We won’t.)
(I won’t.)
(Never!)
Slowly your voice penetrates my doubts,
and rises crystal clear,
We can’t divine the future,
all we know is now.
I chose the girl, and would again,
because,
when we’re together,
we’re sailing not drowning.
Ⓒ 2019 Lisa Shaughnessy
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