The Dating Game (Poetry)

When filling in the form at first
I stretched the truth a tad
the lily gilded till it shone
my flighty quill turned mad

So what if I was fifty-two? —
my heart bid twenty-five
admitted forty — give or take
still young libido-wize

I ticked those boxes recklessly
I favoured Latin dance
could parlez-vous quite fluently
when given half a chance

I made the story of my life
as thrilling as I could —
pure fiction flowed so shamelessly
deep purple ink looked good

I posted it — my hopes sky-high
my dreamed-of prince would come
and rescue me from drudgery ...
An answer came — just one

He sounded nice — an older man
not wealthy but sincere
his openness and honesty
made all the rules quite clear

We met. Despite dull fears I found
him charming and polite
the evening lively — so much fun
we laughed and talked all night

No need now for his agency
he told me he’d been sure
between the lines I was the girl
he’d long been waiting for