Twenty

Twenty years have past
Since we saw each other last
Twenty things I thought I’d remember
This month before September

Twenty people I said a good hello to
In three brief hours, that I knew
Twenty or more by four
I saw come in the door
To some a brief hello, but no lore,
No reminiscing of yore
Before time flew.
The rest no greeting just a view.

Twenty things others recalled
I stood as they told their tales
My heart did flinch and quail
In fear I might be appalled—

To my relief and to my shame
Tales told did not discredit my name
Though many present I could not remember
My shame is: What kept me away these twenty Septembers?

Copyright © 2013 H.K. Longmore