Chasing The Next Desire

When I was nine years old, I used to walk 

down Barthman Avenue, turn the corner 

onto Parsons Avenue, and gaze into the 

window of a variety store called the Melting Pot.  

Usually, there was some kind of toy 

in the window that I wanted, but I never had 

enough money.  I didn't receive an allowance.  

Sometimes, Dad would give me his pocket change 

which never amounted to the price of anything 

I longed for in the window of the Melting Pot.  

Later, at Marion-Franklin High School, I developed 

a passion for a person who pretended that I didn't exist.  

Her name was Sarah, and the strong, persistent 

yearning for her continued through High School and 

up to the present moment.  I'm old now, and 

I think of Sarah almost every day.  It's as if I'm 

looking through the window of the Melting Pot again, 

longing for something that no amount of pocket change 

will let me buy.  

---

R. Nikolas Macioci earned a PhD from The Ohio State University. Nik is the author of twenty-five books. He was twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, nominated five times for a Pushcart Prize, and twice for a Best of the Net award. His poems have appeared in such magazines as The Hong Kong Review, The Bombay Review, The Raven’s Perch, The Main Street Rag, Xavier Review, Taj Mahal Review, and Bellevue Literary Review.