The vulnerability and excitement of a first date for young adult love. This poem is part of a series, Wilted No More, that reflects my life story and is a 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 picks her up in a fancy car and drives her to a five-star restaurant, where they eat seafood and drink champagne while chatting and looking 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. The 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’ll fly 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. Read or listen to my poems on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn and at simplystorypoetry.com Thank you for listening. Beverley Joy.
