Beth and Roger in Orlando, 1991.Thinking back on my life 20 years ago, I have to say that today seems so much simpler. I wrote about that key personal era in “Arc of the Poet Part 6,” and although I think it makes for interesting reading, recalling those days is rather bracing for me. I had so much to prove to myself and the short list of others whose opinions really mattered to me, and although I was confident in my strengths and abilities, I was unsure about so much more. While I had come very far with the gifts provided by my family, as well as those I was earning for myself, the new chapters seemed to hold promises I was almost afraid to hope for. Within weeks of writing the poem below, I began my new role as the husband of Beth Darnell. That dream-come-true continues today, thanks in part to the instincts revealed below which made me realize that the opportunities I was facing were precious and must be handled with care.
Careful
by Roger Darnell
There could be a
limerick or something
back there,
something quick and terse —
elucidating, uproarious,
stabbing.
But I just want to say
everything’s going so fast;
you know, not in every way…
but in most,
it really is.
Can’t say much more
than that.
Although I can fit in
something
about
love
and about
thanks, and graciousness,
and pay attentions.
And carefuls.
