9 poems dugger - Trish Dugger

Dear Gene Kelly
Extra dry with a twist
at the La Valencia
Whaling Bar.
Dark in a booth for two,
you licked your lips
between each sip.
Your leaps and slides
exciting
on the silver screen,
I dreamed of being
your leading lady
from the first time
I saw you at the Rialto,
singing and dancing
in the rain.
There’s no explaining
chance encounters.
Bumping into each other
on Prospect in La Jolla,
we went reeling and
my packages scattered.
You helped me gather
them up and asked me
to have a drink.
To think a few martinis
would provide me with
a lifetime of daydreams.
I confided I was a poet
and recited my aubade
to Auden, and after a refill,
I spilled my racy limericks.
You laughed in your
raspy voice to choice bits.
I have no regrets except
you didn’t ask me to dance
and I want you to know
that I can really cha cha.