First Date (revised)

[Caleb Murdock]

New version to give the poem a serious ending:


First Date
In memory of Jennifer Rosoff

They saw a show, they kissed; the chance
of romance was definitely there —
but first, a drink and then a smoke
on her terrace fifteen stories in the air.
She leaned against the rail, her back
to the void, and he balked, "Is that safe?"
"Yes, I've been doing this for years!"
And she bounced a little on the rim
to show him it was strong, and it broke,
and in an instant she was gone.
So it goes, life ends in a stroke.
Tell this tale to your children at five,
and they will be careful all their lives.

I changed "coupling" to "romance" to make the tale appropriate for children.  Perhaps I should also substitute other activities for drinking and smoking.  I personally think the new ending sounds a little old-fashioned, but maybe you'll like it.

Original version:

First Date

They saw a show, they kissed; the chance
of coupling was definitely there —
but first, a drink and then a smoke
on her terrace fifteen stories in the air.
She leaned against the rail, her back
to the void, and he balked, "Is that safe?"
"Yes, I've been doing this for years!"
And she bounced a little on the rim
to show him it was strong, and it broke,
and in an instant she was gone.
The police believed him, but still —
I wouldn't want to be that bloke.