The Temptation

‘I would if I could but I can’t,’ he said,

‘Though I know it would be sublime,

I’m spoken for, and it does my head

To think that you could be mine.

I made a vow, and I don’t know how

I could break it, and feel right,

But though I’m true, I’m thinking of you

As I do, each sleepless night.’

 

He shook his head and he walked away

As she clutched the verandah rail,

She turned her face away when the trace

Of her tears had left a trail.

‘I don’t know what the attraction is,’

She said, as she wiped her eyes,

‘But it must be true what I say to you,

Anything else is lies!’

 

He walked back into his hotel room

And held his head in his hands,

And as he did the temptation grew

For a taste of contraband.

She’d met him there as she always did

For she serviced all the rooms,

His monthly trip, and her heart would flip

As the day of his coming loomed.

 

And he would think of her sparkling eyes

The set of her moist, pink lips,

Her flaxen hair and her pointed stare

And the sway of her virgin hips.

Her image was burnt upon his brain

Though he still loved his woman too,

It left him sore and confused, he thought,

What was a man to do?

 

He fell at last in a deep, deep sleep

And Rhianna entered his room,

She saw him peacefully lying there

Quite unaware in the gloom,

She lay down quiet beside him, just

To see how it felt to lie

Next to the one that her love was on,

He woke, his hand on her thigh.

 

The silken feel of Rhianna’s thigh

Had put him into a trance,

He thought that a dream had come to life

Til he opened his eyes, by chance,

Her lips were hovering over his brow

Her flaxen hair in his face,

Her strange perfume permeated the room,

He rolled off the bed in haste.

 

‘I would if I could but I can’t,’ he said,

‘I need you to understand,

If I were free, with just you and me

But I’m not, and this wasn’t planned.’

He left, drove home in the early dawn

To arrive unexpectedly,

And saw the light in the bedroom on,

His woman had company.

 

She wept as the man had gathered his clothes,

And made poste haste for the door,

While he just stood as if turned to wood,

His feet fast glued to the floor,

‘Well, you’re always off on your travels, John,

You must consider my plight!’

‘That may be so,’ as he turned to go,

‘But I know where I’ll sleep tonight!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[ANTO]

Wow - both of them playing away from home. I know ... I know.. you're gonna say to me 'Anto - you should know by now that theres always a little something in my poems - I just dont write them for the good of my health'
but - Im so glad thats the case and every time its like 'come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly'
which is why I love the DLP. (not to be confused with the DUP - a political party over here).
Great craic David - thank you .. again and again - and again

[TL Boehm]

In this case I'm on his side - he said no to the offering but she didn't now did she. I love the rhythm of this piece specifically - I would if I could but I can't he said. so nice and you keep that going through out the whole thing.

[TPK Stories]

This kinda made me think of that song that Stevie Nicks sang with Fleetwood Mac titled "Rhianna"....great story, DLP.

[R Smith]

haha love that ending and good for him, his wife could not await his travels and jumped in bed with another, i hope he's lives forever happy in the arms of Rhianna, excellent work David :)

[Marie]

Well. He had all that will-power and loyalty and sincerity and steadfastness and whatnot for a woman who wasn't worth it. Tonight he'll sleep with a woman who is. I like the way the poem ended.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

well you would, you could and you did! well done darling, great read.

[Valentine]

What wasn't good for the goose was good for the gander. I liked how you used his wanting to stay true even though he was tempted. How many men would honestly say no. At least he knew where and with who he would be sleeping. A very neat write. Valentine

[Sindu]

He passed the test of faith and now deserves the prize, his chance at happiness. Though it may seem wrong for a married man to desire women not his and women to love a taken man, it all may be the design for future surprise of another unhappy marriage.

[Jennie Baron]

Great touch of irony at the end there. Great story, David, like all of your writing!

[MomzillaNC]

Well, at least Rhianna will be getting a good man! But, would a woman willing to seduce a married man be a good woman for anyone?