As Good as it Gets

Flying an old Cessna
across Kansas in the night
thinking of a women
my object of delight,
The last time I saw her
couple nights before
somewhere in Ohio
perhaps once more,

We will meet in Seattle
at least that’s what she said
an inflated image of her
dances in my head,
I listen to the engine
watch navigation gages
the account of our friendship
would fill a dozen pages,

Strong opinionated
a woman for our time
we met in Chicago
both looking for a sign,
At an airport restaurant
waiting for a table
a smile that eclipsed
a not-so-subtle warning label,

That was many years ago
time, it seems, has flow
back and forth across the country
usually alone,
Sporadically we rendezvous
in motels and bars
airport restaurants
and cheap rental cars,

Up ahead the Rockies
mountains I must climb
in this underpowered airplane
I’m glad it’s not mine,
I’ll drop it in Seattle
hope she will be there
So I can once again
run my finger through her hair,

Wrap my arms around her
in some hotel bed
trying to forget
the words she once said,
“We will never be lovers
just friend with benefits”
but perhaps that just
as good as it gets,