Modern Dating

Those 

Rosebud

Early

Days.

Breathless,

Limitless.

Swipe,

Smile.

Yes? 

Yes!

The meet-cute –

All bluebells

And butterflies. 

First kisses,

First times. 

Cold evenings,

Huddled hugs,

Hot flushes 

Against the 

Shower wall.

The middle act:

The daisy days,

The Netflix nights. 

The questions rise.

But do you?

I don’t know. 

Can we wait?

There’s no time.

One shared bond,

Two different worlds.

The first few fissures, 

Proud peonies wilting away.

Cracks in the tiling

Where you felt sure-footed.

But I thought that –

But you never asked. 

I shouldn’t have to.

From fears to tears.

Holding on, holding on,

Knowing you’re losing grip.

The bursting of the banks.

White lilies and endless regret.

Conversations drawn out and strained,

A circle line of discontent. 

Yet still the love overwhelms.

Don’t end it? Stay friends?

There is no easy answer

So you question, again and

Again and again and again.

Until there is no more.

Together you sob, swear, subside.

Carnations, commiserations. Platonic pledges.

Until the words

Dry up.

Done.