Under Wraps

(whether you are nine or twenty nine, a prize is a prize)

when the music stopped abruptly

do you recall a certain exhilaration

from that rotating parcel landing

into your eager lap

how your heart skipped a beat

you were all fingers and thumbs

while you sat cross legged

your feet positioned east west

when you had only seconds left

to peel off a layer of old broadsheet

thick with sixties blackened print

before the stylus hit the groove

on it moved, how smudges played

on fingertips and palms resembled

the Black sea but you didn't care

your spirits were up in the air

you knew you were in with a chance

you knew you had a possibility

of gaining a prize, so your eyes stayed

focused and bright

---------------------------------------------

fast forward at Rebecca's bar

he was at the far end, sending more

than smoke signals my way

easy to read messages on display

his eyes strayed into the floral

curves and folds of my best dress

dark lengthy eye lashes tickled 

my cheek from a distance away

i felt an absent kiss on my neck

then he edged his way through

the throng, nearer and nearer

he caught the sigh of my breath

    the rest is under wraps

Reviews

[Lorry]

Hay, where's part three of this OBVIOUS trilogy, where the wrap is unwrapped?
Stop leaving it to our imagination Chris, if I wanted to think I'd read some fake news.
And that's before I even mention the fact you didn't tell us what was in the parcel... Is this a surreal poem? 😀
I once won a bottle of whisky and pack of cigarettes and lighter at pass ghe parcel... I was 8! Pre health and safety. Mum didn't bat an eyelid, but seemed quite happy later that night, sleeping in the clothes hamper 😀

[Chris Shaw]

Ha ha. Have I wound you up like a corkscrew Lorry? Pass the parcel in my day was usually a book. In fact it was always a book. A children's two and sixpence classic. Now your pass the parcel certainly had more exciting possibilities. Come on now, eight years old and you got whiskey. Talk about an early starter, f**s as well. You didn't do arson with that lighter did you?

Part Three.

Ha. Maybe I'm still waiting to unwrap the prize :))

Chris

[Lorry]

Pass the parcel, youth club fates, I always won booze. No I. D. check, nothing! I think it was the parents way of making it more bearable, making every prize illegal to kids.
Who can blame 'em really? I've heard tell I was a bit of a handful in my formative years.
Glad I vrew out of that 😀

[Lorry]

... Grew out of that.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, you are all growed up now aren:t you? Still enjoying your sweeties and your curly whirlys:))

[Lorry]

Just discovered Galaxy caramel... It's obscenely good. 😀

[Chris Shaw]

Now you are rubbing salt into an open wound. I can't have dairy :(( boo hoo. Maybe I'll get him indoors to try it though.

[Lorry]

Oopsy, me bad. Nom nom nom 🤭

[Neville]

What a beauty .. not only did you take me back in time to around my 7th or 8th birthday party which was something else & not just because Dawn accepted my daring invitation (we met again many years later when she became a receptionist at the surgery I worked at and the magic was still there) .. but because the thought of hidden delights still give me a buzz and I could feel my father near as he took control of the transistor radio .. Oh' and because I would be denying the thrill of the thought of me taking note of those neat curves in your best floral dress .. Uniquely poemed to perfection Chris .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Neville for your warm and entertaining review. Pleased you enjoyed Under Wraps:) Quite sometime since I read this one myself.

Chris

[Neville]

indeed you are most welcome Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

Ah, yes, the rest is under wraps......keep us guessing, Chris. This was a great story. Anticipation, build up....oh, the romance and the sparks! "his eyes strayed into the floral curves and folds of my best dress" what a great line! I could picture the scene. Loved it. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Oh goodness me Lydi**. A very belated thank you. Only three years late. A big sorry but better late than never.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

Laughing here. No sorry necessary! Your poetry is well worth reading with or without thanks. Lydi***

[Chris Shaw]

You are far too kind my friend :))

[Dave]

Chris - I've been away for a bit. I've been finishing up a novel that I'm trying now to get published.
I'm glad I got back in time to read this. I really like it. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this from you before. I'll have to get caught up on the other writings of yours' that I've missed.

Take care and be safe. Our "Idiot" is still not making it mandatory that people ar least wear masks. Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Good luck with your novel Dave. We now have to wear masks in shops and on public transport. I have been doing this for months. Way to go. Politicians, I despair of them. Happy you caught this write. Yes it's a bit different,but pleased you enjoyed. Take care my friend.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Dear Chris... a very clever Title and ending.
Definitely my Favorite. A Bar is an excellent place to share your instincts and discover and embrace a Guy with a Tear. I did and we rescued each other. The Salvation Army has
embraced many Tears when people have lost their way... and thereby touched their Spirit.
“Your heart skipped a Beat... before the Stylus
hit the Groove.” We must not be so Heaven bent that we are no earthly good. tenderly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Pat for your lovely review. My heart certainly did skip a beat and the rest is our history. Seems that's how you met your love as well. Worked for both of us.
Pleased this is one of your favourites of my writes.

Chris

[...]

I tried find common sense at this le fontaine of your aurora in highest vibrations. But i gave up. It's just wonderful imagination with perspective of tragic existentialism . At that case my mind give me this explanations. Maybe it's record of secret date in between Colin Wilson and Iris Murdoch .

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Martin. Your response made me smile. This poem was about feelings of excitement faced in two different situations in
time. One as a nine year old child, the other as a 29 year old woman. A prize is a prize however old you are. Both can be exhilarating.

Chris

[...]

I member when i was child feels of exhilarating was sometimes much better then prize itself. Special when my mind start to work up what's is gonna be what i will get. I think real thing are too grey for me . Like there is missing some magic or spell.

[Ken Simm.]

The first part had me thinking what a delightful subject for a poem. And then I read the second part and immediately thought a delight with extra layers of meaning. Wonderful Christine.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ken for your thoughts. Lovely to have a visit from you. All the best.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

there is so much more i want to know about this ... glad i read your interaction with Lorry and found out what a "parcel" is ... the setting is still a bit unclear ... but i see a young lady receiving the book ... i understand the black ink transfer .. i use to be a paper boy ;) she's listening to a favorite record, i think ... but the 60 seconds, tho seems important ... i don't know why?? love the sharp transition of time, scene and form ...all works for me! ... classy, sensual yet oh so bar room .... and ya gotta love that closing line .. you devil you! ..leaving everyong hanging like that :)))))))))))))))) peace girl!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E. When we were kids we played pass the parcel at parties. It was really exciting. The prize was wrapped up in numerous layers of old newspaper. When the music stopped, you were allowed to remove one layer of paper before passing the parcel on. On and on it went until the last layer. Everyone wanted the prize. Now fast forward a few years and you have a more grown up scenario. Excitement and prizes through the ages:)) Our kids party games you might not know about. I'm sure the other scenario is much better known :)) Thank you so much for checking in. A good day to you on an extremely wet and windy one over the pond.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

ahhhhh what a great party game for kids!! i feel my life is lacking now ;) ...maybe Norma will play it with me :)))))))))))))))))) luv ya girl!
E.

[AJNJ]

You created that feeling of anticipation, excitement, exhilaration. This poem hit all the reward centres in my brain. I just loved this read. Life can be so beautiful indeed.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Pestonjee for checking in and leaving your thoughts here. Pleased I could get all those emotions across in my Under Wraps poem. Yes, despite all the horrors that we encounter, life can be good.


Chris

[AJNJ]

I agree with you...despite of all the trials and travails, life is worth it and its great to be alive!

[Chris Shaw]

Have a great day :)

[AJNJ]

You too dear friend :)

[John the Baptist]

The times and settings may be different, but the anticipation of possibilities is quite similar. A prize is a prize, whether we choose to display the trophies or not.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks John for your thoughts on prizes through the ages.

Chris