easy chair dreams

i've learned there are two ways
to sit in an easy chair.
i've experimented with them
so i know.

the first is the sitting posture
of an aggressive young man.
i was one once.

such a man falls into the chair
quickly pushing the seat back into
a recumbent position.
he will stretch his lean muscles
then return the chair to its upright
position. 
his leg muscles will tense 
pushing against the floor.
he will quickly arise and be 
out the door in 14 steps
and won't return anytime soon.

then you have the old man
who easily and slowly
falls into the chair's open arms
the way he used to softly fall into
the arms of a lover
reluctant to ever rise again.

he will fall asleep 
the way he once slept so easily beside
Connie, or Brenda, or Susan
or any other name that's on the lips
he forbid ever utter that name again.

but in that chair
she returns to the sleepy memory
of an old man
who
along with his easy chair dreams
is turning to dust 
with each fond remembrance.