I knew her when I could be called a youth
And life had not uncovered certain truths
Apparent to detectives, super-sleuths;
Such as ‘Best clues are found within untruth.’

For boasting of a car with plushest trim,
Expensive belted tires, alloy rims,
Made me no better than deceptive crims –
With chance of non-detection just as slim.

And then to cap it all, I had to boast
I’d travelled mighty wide, seen foreign coasts,
Slept in hotels grand, dined on French toasts,
Bought all my suits on Saville Row, almost!

Unfortunately, when our first date came,
Her knowing eyes soon recognised my games,
Called me by some less than loving names;
Sneered through lip-sticked lips, “You’re all the same!’’

But then, to my surprise, she spoke at length,
About a talent prized above all strengths:
The sense to recognise Deception’s lengths;
Departing with the phrase “God give me strength!”

Deflated, somewhat wiser, still in shock,
I tucked my tattered jeans inside odd socks,
Freed racing-bike from combination locks;
Chewed bubble-gum on way to home – took stock.

 

David Watt is a writer from Canberra, the “Bush Capital” of Australia. He has contributed regularly to Collections of Poetry and Prose by Robin Barratt. When not working for IP (Intellectual Property) Australia, he finds time to appreciate the intrinsic beauty of traditional rhyming poetry.

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10 Responses

  1. David Hollywood

    This is great David, I am still smiling as I reflect upon boastful naivety as expressed through this lovely poem, I suppose a growing up poem from our youth. To start it with the maturity of reflection sets the stage wonderfully. Terrific, and I am still enjoying it. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Fr. Richard Libby

    This is a very well-written poem. Congratulations, Mr. Watt!

    Reply
  3. Amy Foreman

    This also sounds a lot like what I hear happens in the world of online dating, where profiles tend to be puffed-up versions of each person’s best self, and the face-to-face meeting is a bit of a let-down. Thanks Mr. Watt, for a humorous look at human nature!

    Reply
  4. James Sale

    Very amusing – I really enjoyed it, and agree with Amy that it sounds like on-line dating, about which we should always remember: the odds are good, but the goods are odd.

    Reply
  5. Allen

    Course, it depends on where he got his tattered jeans and old socks. If it was today if they were from a ‘with it’ source he would be Saville Row. His crime, shoving pants in sockes1

    Reply
  6. Timothy Onyebuchi

    I’ve had a good loud smile, David. I wish all liars will get this kind of humiliation so they can begin to have a rethink — stick to the truth no matter how unsavoury it sounds.
    Thanks, David.

    Reply
  7. David Watt

    Thank you everyone for your appreciation of this poem! I agree with Amy and James that the world of on-line dating often results in similar situations. I loved the motto written by James : “The odds are good, but the goods are odd.”
    Shoving pants in socks – definitely a crime of style.

    Reply

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