Safety First (Poetry)

I meant it as a dalliance —
a way to spend the afternoon
far from my intention was
to fall in love so very soon

Oh he was charming off the cuff
and really quite good looking too
and so I liked him well enough
to see a sweet seduction through

It was so nice — so very nice
like fine champagne straight to my head
and afterwards I lay entranced
beside him in that rumpled bed

He dozed a little and I watched
the rise and fall of his smooth chest
a warning voice said ‘Slip away
before he wakes — you know it’s best!’

But no. I lingered warm and keen
that we might talk a while maybe
admit how good the thrill had been
check out his feeling now for me

He stirred and opened one brown eye
‘Ah’ he said ‘I thought you’d gone’
wrong-footed now I shook my head
my heart sank as he then went on

‘Afraid I’m married — must shoot off’
he grabbed his trousers, shirt and tie
‘I’ll ring you sometime’ winking. Left
I barely answered his goodbye

Farewell Romance! He never rang
No time for love and all that fuss
We’d met by chance — I’d shared his cab
Since then I’m safer on the bus