Past Imperfect

Blast from the past,
bolt from the blue,
dunno what else
to call you…

You called me
after six years
or maybe more
and told me off
for not having
called before.

Have never
been taken
so much by
surprise,
as on
identifying
your voice.

You spoke
like a
miffed lover
who had
run out
of patience,
I could
do nothing
but be
shell-shocked
and pledge
obeisance…

Long-drawn
silences
and curt
words
made this
awkward
exchange
more surreal
than strange
for how
could you
harbour hurt
through all
these years
and expect
me to
give chase.
I must say
you still
don’t cease
to amaze…

I did try,
didn’t I?
But you were
too busy
playing
hard to get,
so I packed
my ego
and left…

What could
I’ve said?
What could
I’ve done?
Was too
impatient then,
didn’t care
about the
long-run…

But now
that we
gave
each other
a summary
of what
our lives
have been
like and
even
how they
ought to be,
isn’t it
time you
forgave me
and
put me
out of my
misery?