~Lost In Port Richey~

    

Past cute little houses we wandered
up and down Barberry Street
searching for a villa
in thick and damp of Florida heat

convinced that we were totally lost
amongst lush of coconut palms
feeling foolish and angry
airing our best and most cynical qualms

the directions, thoughtfully emailed by Marsha
days before with a map and descrip
put away so very well
they never even made the trip

but the street name, he said he remembered well
the map in his mind like a photograph
Barberry Street in Port Richey
at my husband's talent, I didn't laugh

as we approached, the excitement mounted
through the neighborhood, we cruised
to our dismay, no villa appeared
I wondered if this were not just a ruse

teary eyed and angry
my temper began to pique
this had meant so much to me
I couldn't even speak

the depth of my disappointment
echoed the guilt on David's face
he'd trusted his good memory
but somehow it was erased

"so sorry" he said "our cell phone is dead
endless foot rubs I now owe you
but we'll find this place" said his warm embrace
"and happiness, I'll show you"

settling into Denny's Restaurant
in this very same zip code
our hunger was stirred and dinner was served
with a map, we tried hard to de-code

finally, a waitress
lent a cell phone with free long distance
and though this was odd, we phoned Nan in Cape Cod
and she was of much assistance

Nan had the number of the villa
so David punched in the call
he spoke to Marsha and Krissy
and soon we were there amongst them all

I'd known all these friends from Piptalk
and their poetry online
writers of rhyme and ballads and verse
gathered in the same place at one time

several times that day, back and forth
we'd driven past this very spot
the balloons on the mailbox, we didn't see
we never connected the dots

after searching all day for that villa
at last we were finally here
amongst poet friends and love without end
with hugs and warmth and cheer
~

photo by Titia Geertman