Memento

No one knows that long ago

I escaped dirty dishes,

casseroles and laundry

to go dancing with someone forbidden.

We whirled all night 

Singing and touching the stars

Like nothing existed but ourselves

And fire. 

Since that night, I have grown mellow

with middle age, comfortable

with life, complacent with marriage.

but once in a while, thinking of that white-hot

rendezvous, I rush to my closet

humming an old, love song,

searching for a certain, red dress

that even after all these years, still smolders.