The Man That Got Away

He asked me to believe in him
I couldn’t
I could see right through him
Like Perspex
He wanted to be perfect
Like glass
He said “Do you find me attractive?”
I couldn’t find him at all
I said I thought him acutely intangible
He looked lost
Then in some confusion, thanked me.
He had everything money could buy
But he hadn’t materialised yet,
Offered me diamonds
I offered him politics
He looked blank
Like canvas ignored by an artist
Like paper when the writers block started
The crack between the broken-hearted
Like space left by the not-so-dearly departed.

He wanted to be there for me
“Where’s there?” I asked
“Why, here”
It was then I told him I couldn’t see him
But that I’d wait a little while
To see if he’d appear.
He didn’t like that
Stormed off
I remember thinking the cloud he left under
Was more substantial
Than he ever was,
Whoever he was
Whenever it was
“The night grows colder
Suddenly you’re older”
I’ve not seen that man I couldn’t see since.