Beautiful Brunette

by Michael Estabrook

Real estate taxes,
gas, electric and water bills,
broken car, torn
rotator cuff, high blood pressure,
crabgrass, moles, mice,
mosquitoes, mold, woodpeckers
and a list of adult
worries and responsibilities,
cares and concerns that would choke
a damn horse, all forcing
a nostalgic reflection,
a glorious beam of light
slicing through the gloomy smog,
back to high school
with its homework, exams,
part–time jobs,
with gymnastics tryouts
and trying to get the attention
of this beautiful brunette
across the room in Miss Roth’s
Language Arts class —
a simpler, less–troubled world —
but was it, was it really?