An Unclaimed Treasure by Donal Mahoney

An Unclaimed Treasure

buffet-line-food-800x800

You’re an old man
in a nice suit and tie
out with your wife
at a fancy function
with nice people
your wife worked with.
It’s a reunion of sorts.

In the buffet line
you’re introduced to
a young lady who says
your wife was her mentor
and she’s ever so thankful
these many years later
for your wife’s guidance.

On the drive home
you say to your wife
you saw no wedding ring
on her protégé, odd
for a nice woman like that
even in this day and age.

Your wife says
back when you two
were courting, she
would have been called
an Unclaimed Treasure.

Maybe she’s gay, you say,
or won’t give her prize away
until she’s married,
rather unusual today.
But when you were single,
a young woman wouldn’t
give it away for good reason.
Marriage was her goal
and virginity mattered
for women if not for men.
Some things become
more difficult to understand
as one grows old and gray.

Donal Mahony

Donal Mahoney, nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart prizes, Donal Mahoney has had poetry and fiction published in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Some of his work can be found by clicking here… 

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