Return Of The Heart-Throb (Poetry)

I wonder if I’d catch your eye
in that so-glitzy crowd —
that wild parade of passers-by
their anthems long and loud

I’m not the drop-dead-gorgeous sort
I’m not the kind of girl
who prompts a more than fleeting thought —
bright flags don’t all unfurl

The legends of your women last
though you deny they’re true
whole armies of them rule your past
and link their names to you

The glamourous declare it’s war —
they posture and they pout
and use hot bodies as a lure
that’s what the game’s about

And maybe you played for a while
just to be judged polite
but found it wasn’t quite your style
and so called it a night

But gossip being what it is
the rumours got around
that old champagne had lost its fizz
the vat declared unsound

Then like a hermit in some cave
you hide from public view
some dregs of sanity to save
before the rain leaks through

When you emerge the world’s moved on
the carnival has changed
some power shifts — one regime gone
and faces rearranged

But you are you — then legend lives
the groupies give a cheer
and every diehard fan forgives
the way you left them here

There’s little chance I’ll catch your eye
in that half-crazy crowd
that audience floats way on high
with encores long and loud

I’m not a girl to make a scene
but pray our glances meet
so Cupid’s arrow pierces clean
and knocks you off your feet

And should it happen — one small spark
inflame your weary eye
to passion romping through the dark ...

then dawn’s luke-warm goodbye