This poem reflects on the vulnerability and excitement of a young adult first date.
This poem is part of a series that traces my life story from age 19, highlighting significant events: falling in love, falling out of love, marriage, divorce, and motherhood.
The Wilted Rose tells the story of my mother’s life up to the point when, at 18, I left home to follow love. My teenage relationship only lasted one year. Melbourne, Victoria, was too cold for me, just as my puppy love for him had grown cold. In 1980, I returned to Brisbane, Queensland. I moved into a two bedroom flat with her best friend from high school. I started a full-time administration job at a bank in Brisbane CBD and bought a secondhand car.
I went to a disastrous Christmas party with Brian, 21, as my 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 me all evening, dancing and drinking with a female work colleague, while I stood awkwardly among the partygoers with only my friend, who had set up the blind date, keeping apologising profusely. Even though Brian shared the last dance with me before driving me home, I decided he obviously wasn’t interested in me. Unimpressed by his rude behaviour, I didn’t want to go out with him again.
But Brian called me on the house telephone the next day. He apologised for his selfish behaviour at the party and invited me out on a proper date to a fancy city restaurant on Queen Street, Brisbane. I 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. We were dressed in formally. He picked me up in a fancy car and drove me to a five-star restaurant, where we ate seafood and drank champagne, chatting as we looked out over the city’s river lights from their intimate table for two. 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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