The Engagement Party

The party was in full swing.
She was over the moon.
She’d been given the ring:
the wedding would follow, soon.

Her rosy cheeks glowed
with traces of crimson.
The Champagne flowed
and so did the Bourbon.

The atmosphere was convivial
and was full of joviality.
If the talk became trivial
it was met with hilarity.

Some people were hitched,
others single and free.
A girl, who had been ditched,
was flirting with me.

And I wondered if this
was the start of romance.
She accepted my kiss
as if she was in a trance.

Although she would cling
I knew there and then
she only wanted a fling
with available men.

I thought of some ruse
so I could disengage.
The only valid excuse
was my venerable age.

I felt like a dunce
but it did the trick:
she dropped me at once
like I was a hot brick.

© Luigi Pagano