Launch Party (Poetry)

She knew he would be there —
mingling with the glamorous and vain
not to be outshone, she took some care —
dressed for the event — her single aim
to stun him — knock his eyes out with a look
that launched more than another chick-lit book.

She bleached her too-beige hair
went without her trusty Wonderbra
wore a bustier — her shoulders bare
raised in heels too high for walking far
and, painted like some geisha, tagged along
as one of many hopeful hangers-on.

All night she hovered near —
almost at his elbow, but he seemed
distant — in some cooler atmosphere —
didn’t notice when she smiled or leaned
closer — how every syllable he spoke
made her sigh — grown desperate to provoke

reaction — charm his eye.
In consequence, she drank too much wine
gathered courage for one final try
stubbornly ignoring every sign
his interest lay elsewhere and not in her
the room dissolved into a dizzy blur...

The fresh air brought her round —
shocked to find a stranger stroked her hand
a mite embarrassed, too — so she frowned —
not the quick seduction she had planned...
She asked him who he was, began to thank
him as the import of this knowledge sank

in — filled her reeling head.
Angling for a somewhat slippery shark
she examined what she’d caught instead —
a whale — air between began to spark —
she was sure, when he went to fetch her coat
he’d publish every page she ever wrote.