Despite living in the world, I’m a monk at heart,
but my heart won’t let me be one.

Even though I’m an old man now and know
nothing lasts, even wondrous romantic love,

once in a while I find myself yearning to have
a woman in my solitary life.

Once in a while I find myself thinking about
a woman’s comforting, sweet ways,

though I know sometimes those ways are not
sweet and comforting and can be heartbreaking.

I’m about to try to find a way to deprogram my
unceasing appreciation of women, and my

occasional feelings of how nice it would be
to have one in my life again.

Maybe like exorcising demons, a priest could
expunge these feelings from my possessed heart,

but, alas, I know I’m just kidding my foolish
self writing that nonsense.

And, to be realistic and perfectly honest,
I know I could never be a monk.

Bob Boyd