Gail P. First Love Lost

met in the ticket line
for Hendrix’s first show
at the Cleveland
Music Hall

we went to lunch
gave her my number
she said she’d see
me at the show

called the next day and
canceled wasn’t
going – made other
plans wished me well

doubled with a friend
blind date – to bitter end
no spark, no fire, just
long with no desire

ran into Gail in stair-
well before the show
apoloized said she
would soon seek me out

gaver her my address
and went to my seat
show delayed a bomb
threat called in

the show went on
Hendrix made love
to his guitar on
stage then burned it

two days later, she
arrived at my door
took me to my bed
became my first love

a summer of reverie
then a sad ending
she was pregnant
by her old boyfriend

decided to marry him
me a temporary
distraction while
making her plan

marry into ‘good’ family
wealth connected social
elites would satisfy her
ambisious desires

despondent I moved
to Ann Arbor
recovered moved on
new adventures, new songs

–LE