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(But just perceptibly) from an Irish setter
Which has just come dashing madly up to her
While its owner, a thin little girl
Of perhaps seven, mortifi ed, is frantically
Calling out to her `She likes you!'
And hurrying forward.... All of it equally
In this lovely, momentary light,
thinks a bent old man
Taking it in, who just then, with a start
At the unlikeliness of it, separately
Becomes aware that he has been feeling
Like a boy this whole day. Which has not happened
Before,
he refl ects. Wouldn't expect it to again.
Late December, 1992