Remember

This is getting serious--she’s asked for your phone number
So remember, when she wants to find out
how it was to be married to me,
that the stakes are high, given the infrequency
that I fall in love--so give her a good report! 

—recollecting all the swanky places I took you
with the classy views, our vacations
—mountains, rivers, lakes...
you can use your discretion 

about the tent and the snoring
(and I don’t think the fishing part of these times together
is absolutely required for the discussion
--besides, every time I checked in on you
you seemed to be having a good time,
loving nature as you do) 

Should she ask about my fidelity, please remember
that for all my poet’s views about free love,
how infrequently I actually strayed 

Remember how much you liked my earthy, touchy-feely-ness,
and that other thing--bigger and better than most!
(should she ask, just between girls) 

You don’t have to lie about my house-keeping
--she already knows, though I’ve lacked gumption
to either clean or show her the upstairs
(you might point out, that there are great impulses
that move through me, that regrettably,
don’t allow me to spend as much time with the vacuum 

cleaner as I would otherwise wish...but I’m a team player
who can rise to the occasion & meet standards
if someone else will only set them 

Recall--I never hit you--even in the days
when you were drinking & could get abusive
though once I did carry and dump you
out of the house, locking the door. But even so, recollect 

I’ve always been there for you
emotionally, even now, ten years later, when you need
to talk, or some of that wise, heartful counsel
I’m so good at 

More than anything--being a woman,
she’s gonna want to know about my prospects
for commitment and partnering--and here I truly
have changed for the better--my time alone
has deepened my yearning for someone to love
and grow old with--this is really true,
you won’t be leading her astray... 

So sweetheart, don’t be catty or competitive
but wishing me well, tell her how lucky she is
to have found me, now that I’m entering my peak
let her know how fantastic and rare she must be
for me to be so goo-goo,
that you’ve never seen me like this before
in all the days since we broke up 

Remember--this means a lot
Remember--cause I need your help
Remember me well --for old times’ sake...