Unrequited

She wasn’t a striking beauty, but

I loved her with all my heart,

I know that I always meant to tell, 

I should have done from the start,

But her presence had overwhelmed me

Every time that I saw her face,

I was far too shy as she passed me by

For she moved with a gliding grace.

She wasn’t a social butterfly

But was always circumspect,

Was rather solemn and thoughtful but

Was all that I liked, direct.

I doubt if she even noticed me

Beyond becoming her friend,

I’d hoped for more, but I wasn’t sure

It would turn out in the end.

And then a man had moved in next door,

With the moniker Richard Pace,

He had all the bling, was covered in rings

With assets all over the place.

He drove a mauve Lamborghini that

Spoke volumes about the man,

And it wasn’t too long, he seemed to belong

For Esther was holding his hand.

I withered, retreated inside myself,

Retracted back in my shell,

My hopes and dreams, and my forward schemes

Were lost, and my heart as well,

I watched them drive in that magic car

While knowing that all was lost,

For all I had was a beat up Ford

At a fraction of the cost.

They say that money’s not everything

But it’s sure much better than none,

There wasn’t much I was offering

But a heart, quite overcome.

I went for a while then I wandered out

While Esther was there on her own,

‘Where have you been, I haven’t seen you,

Have you been there on your own?’

I managed to mutter, my eyes cast down,

‘I’ve watched you all over the place,

You seem to be settled, and riding round

With your new friend, Richard Pace.’

‘Oh, him,’ she chuckled, ‘Old Diamond Rick,

He’s full of himself for sure,

He thinks he’s a gift to the ladies, but,

Me, I’m looking for more.’

My heart beat once, and it came to life,

I saw the spark in her eye,

‘Now here’s your chance,’ said a tiny voice,

‘All you can do is try.’

But my tongue was tied in its usual way

I never could blurt it out,

Then Esther said, ‘I wish it were you,

You love me I know, no doubt!’

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Awesome love story to a terrific ending.

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed this story. It fell properly. A smart woman knows when a man adored her. Perfect ending to the outstanding poetry my friend.
Coyote

[KT-B]

nice work... shyness is nice but shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you'd like too.....

[T.S. Sky]

Great ending. Love is always a great read.

[Avinash]

This was one surprise happy ending. Could really identify with the plot very well but you were lucky that the girl came back to you at last.

[Jane Winters Rogers]

How beautiful, Ester made her move. She was bold
She loved his sweet loving heart....not rings and bling.

[Tony Jordan]

Did he deserve her?
I'm torn on this one. Though I love seeing the underdog come through in the end, I wonder if she wasn't a good enough prize for him to overcome his worries and state his case. Faint heart never won fair lady and that...
Love the image of old 'Diamond Rick' - should have called him old Diamond Dick !! haha
Thanks for sharing DLP.
:)

[Valentine]

Love this one David, reverse the characters and it reminds me of myself long ago. I was the shy...he turned out to be the right guy. Into favorites this one goes. Valentine

[Einstein Noodle]

God bless the woman took control ..came to the rescue!!! hurrah says i!! for i can not count the times that shaky framed, stumbled tongued young man was me ...
i stumbled here just a bit:
"While Esther was there on her own,
‘Where have you been, I haven’t seen you,
Have you been there on your own?’
the repetition of "own" and that last line seems to need one more syllable or comma for pause ..to me ..i read it twice out loud and felt the same ..but i am far from a iambic man ..so the grain of salt please add to my comments .. :) this one has in my opinion one of the grandest endings for the shy guy ..i am rejoicing in it! :))
E.