Scenarios of Daily Lies

A light hearted poem about the little lies we all tell in daily life.

'It's lovely.'

Her friend tugs at the stretchy fabric

Glances shyly in the mirror

Turns and squints over her shoulder at the tightly encased behind

'Suits you.....' follows her back to the fitting room

Too tight, too short

And the colour drains her

"It's lovely."

 

'Great to see you.'

Face half in darkness, smile like weak tea

The door opens wider, slow and reluctant

Traces an arc on the hall carpet

She glides past, eyes down

Trailing wafts of that old musky perfume

A wasted evening beckons

"Great to see you.'

 

 

'Ah no trouble.'

He sighs imperceptibly

Diversion at the first junction

Series of red lights

Bottleneck by the roundabout

Grandma fumbling in her bag for things long gone

Ninety minutes of his life never to be repaid

"No trouble."

 

'Yes, it was good.'

She rolls over

Recalling the trembling fingers as the bra snapped undone

The hesitant wet kisses

A slight whiff of sweat as his shirt was removed

His face, red and contorted

Never drinking again

'It was good.'

 

'I love you'

I want you

'I love you.'

Author's Note

This is the first poem I've written for about ten years so would be interested to know what others might think of it. Be gentle with me….

Reviews

[C J Heyworth]

"Suits you" will never be the same for me since The Fast Show, and I love the realisation in piece 1.
"Smile like weak tea" is wonderfully accurate and original, and I can see the arc on the hall carpet - super.
The "through gritted teath" delivery of "no trouble" recalls more than a few occasions when I used to drive.
Unsuccessful sex is difficult to write about, but stanza 4 nails it beautifully.
and the wistfulness of your close "suits" the poem.
I remember a conversation with a fellow English teacher years ago about how much conversation requires us to absorb sub-text rather than taking conversation always at face value. Both of us were rather struggling with explaining nuance to overseas students in our classes. Brits rely so much on facial expressions and body language to convey intention, and your squibs capture this very well.

[Jill Reidy]

Thank you Christophe, I really appreciate your comments, and as I said to Samuel Dickens (above) I feel spurred on to do more.

[Beccy]

Well, it is a very good poem and my comment is deserved. The last two stanzas in particular are very unique and acutely observed.

Beccy.

[Jill Reidy]

Thank you so much, Beccy.

[Beccy]

Light hearted perhaps, but it speaks the truth in the subtlest of ways. The real truth is, that although we know inside, it's human nature to hear what we want to hear.

Good write. Beccy.

[Jill Reidy]

Thank you Beccy, I'm new to all this so your review is much appreciated.

[Samuel Dickens]

Ha! You made me smile a lot, and laugh, too. I particularly like "ninety minutes of life, never to be repaid." I guess decent human beings have to tell a few gentle fibs, or we'd all be like Mr. Spock. You may not have written for a while, but it doesn't show.

[Jill Reidy]

Thank you so much for your kind comments, Samuel. They're much appreciated and I feel spurred on to write more.