This poem reflects on the vulnerability and excitement of a young adult first date.
This poem is part of the Wilted No More series, which reflects my life story from age 19, and is the sequel to the book The Wilted Rose. Both tell the story of significant events in Grace’s life – falling in love, falling out of love, marriage, divorce, and motherhood.
Grace’s teenage relationship with Alex only lasted one year. Melbourne, Victoria, was too cold for her, just as her puppy love for Alex had grown cold. In 1980, she returned to Brisbane, Queensland. Grace moved into a two bedroom flat with her best friend from high school. She started a full-time administration job at a bank in Brisbane CBD and bought a secondhand car.
She went to a disastrous Christmas party with Brian, 21, as her blind date, a friend of a work colleague. It was set to be a romantic boat party, floating up and down the Brisbane River. Brian ignored her all evening, dancing and drinking with a female work colleague, while Grace stood awkwardly among the partygoers, knowing only her friend who had set up the blind date, who kept apologising profusely. Even though Brian shared the last dance with Grace before driving her home, she decided he obviously wasn’t interested in her. Unimpressed by his rude behaviour, she didn’t want to go out with him again.
But Brian called Grace on the house telephone the next day. He apologised for his selfish behaviour at the party and invited her out on a proper date to a fancy city restaurant on Queen Street, Brisbane. She nervously accepted, giving him a second chance to prove himself a gentleman.
The date was old-fashioned and picture-perfect, like something out of a romantic movie. They were dressed in formal attire. He picked her up in a fancy car and drove her to a five-star restaurant, where they ate seafood and drank champagne, chatting as they looked out over the city’s river lights from their intimate table for two.
This poem reflects their first romantic date together as young adults. Beverley Joy.
Listen HERE – Poem – A romantic first date
The clock was ticking, I was waiting to hear your footsteps at my door
So romantic, so debonair, I basked in your adoring flair.
As you entered into my world, I nervously tripped on my words
Awkward glances, friendly banter.
I said too much, I went on and on revealing my heart, opening my soul
It left me feeling vulnerable, ‘Will I regret it tomorrow?’
I came out of my shell feeling happy and whole
But is that the me that he wants to see?
Throughout the date, we reminisced over common interests and music
We shared our stories of adventures and dreams, past, present, and future.
‘Am I over the top? Was I too much? Will he reconsider or prefer someone else?’
I’ve lived my life as a captive bird; now the cage is flung open, I’m flying upward
It feels so strange, so alien, that I might fly back in and hide again.
No one ‘knows’ me, I don’t ‘know’ myself, but I like what I feel, it’s exciting stuff.
Beverley Joy of Simply Story Poetry 2012. All rights reserved.
You can listen to all my poems on several podcast platforms HERE
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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