Don't Tell Me How It Ends

[couchgrouch]

Don't Tell Me How It EndsDad told me the story, from many years agothat first time he took Mama, to the picture showthey saw Bogart n Bergman, on the silver screentheir romance in Casablanca, unfolded like a dreamMama leaned on Daddy's shoulder, as those two heroes kissedbut Dad saw it before and, knew their love would soon be misthe moved close to tell Mama, knowing it was all pretendbut she thought surprise, was the spice of lifeand said don't tell me how it endsthe second tale he told me, took place at a country fairthe moon was a globe of crystal, suspended in the airthis fortune-telling lady, had a shadowy tenther tarot cards and tea leaves, knew what the future meantDad paid two silver dollars, and sat next to my momthen saw that gypsy go pale, when she read my mother's palmbut fortune's will is, best left on the fickle windso Mama shook her head, stood up slowly and saiddon't tell me how it endsdon't tell me how it endsDad told those stories often, and though he'd been alone for yearsI knew that final story, would leave him in tearsand I took vows forever, the day I wed my wifethough forever to mankind, means the numbered sands of lifebut to fear our future, is not what time intendsso I thought of love I had, pictured Mom and told my daddon't tell me how it endsdon't tell me how it ends(c)2005 Robert George