THAT COCKTAIL PARTY

THAT COCKTAIL PARTY

That cocktail party you

never attended

for whatever reason

--you were too tired

--you had to work late

--you didn't like the host

--the last one was a zonk

Was where you were going to meet the

--business connection

that would lead to the perfect job

-- the lifelong friend who would one day

help you out of a jam

--the woman who would be

the romantic love of a lifetime.

You would have been the perfect guest

throwing off witty bon mots and

making clever repartee

Instead

you made your way home

to open a six dollar bottle of red wine and

flop on the couch to watch

a rerun of The Office

you'd seen twice before

But tomorrow

you may have another chance.

Reviews

[Nigel Newman]

I get the feeling that this is said to oneself, like a sort of internal battle. Go to something that will almost certainly be awful or stay home with a glass of wine. The dilemma is well put across. But why anyone would watch The Office is beyond me!

Cheers
Nigel

[rutherford]

Hi Nigel, thanks for the review...a pleasant surprise since i didn't think anyone viewed this corner of the internet anymore...The Office reference wasn't meant to be as something well thought out and desirable but more the idea that you may be so tired that you'll watch anything that's on TV. thanks

[Nigel Newman]

No I realised that. It's just that I find its star and creator rather too full of himself whatever he does. Just me. No, what you said was totally fine.

[Angi]

I have always had hermit tendencies. I think of ways to back out of social commitments all the time. Then, I chide myself on missed opportunities. Vicious cycle, Rutherford. I understand. Angi~

[Rita L. Sev]

have never been what you would call "ambitious" - that bottle of red and a good show - or a book - sound fine to me. But, there's always the chance that I'd be missing out... you really never know... Good thoughts to ponder here, John.

[rutherford]

Thanks Rita. My natural instinct is to the the introvert but still a twinge that I should still meet people (like those here on WC) that could be out there waiting for good conversation and ideas.

[Rita L. Sev]

I hear you. That's actually a big reason why I came here too - the introvert gets to stay home, but the poet gets to share and exchange ideas...

[Tam Warink]

Why do those ladders always seem to be horizontal over a chasm of flaming excrement? If you're lucky, the ladder will burn and you'll not need to worry about "another chance."

[rutherford]

Tam -- find your reviews great food for thought. I have to admit, I wasn't following you on this one--is the thought to reject "another chance"? Appealing to the one's lurking inner hermit?

[Tam Warink]

I just write'em... but seriously, it has more to do with a personal disdain for the (supposed) necessity to engage in the social behavior. The parallels to other species are all to apparent. On another note, does the ladder extend all the way up into the inner sanctum or is that just an illusion and the effort of climbing nearer the top is increases asymptotically? Oh well... I'm sure this reply wasn't satisfying but one can hope for a bit of entertainment, no?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i would skip the chance...but then i relate so well to this poem...i got dragged to these things when i was younger...not to drink but to engage in shallow conversation and to put out a good appearance so i didn't embarrass my folks...

ugh..

hated it worse when they were at our house...

love the poem though..

but i would settle for the bottle alone...better company.

jacob

[rutherford]

Thanks Jacob. For me, the poem represents my nagging sense that there's a person or a moment to connect with and you may never know where a new experience will lead you. I have a love hate relationship with the phone--99 percent of the time I don't want to answer but there's that one percent thinking -- this could be a long lost friend or some other wonder news.

[Glen Yumang Manese]

When opportunity knocks...you take it...yet at times missing the event is better left on the couch with a 6 pack of beer...in this case a bottle of Riunite wine...I've miss a better part of them...only to find I really did not miss anything at all...

[rutherford]

Thanks Glen. That's my sense of it--I was trying to capture the sense of missed opportunities.
read moreThanks Glen. That's my sense of it--I was trying to capture the sense of missed opportunities.

[Glen Yumang Manese]

You're welcome...more opportunities come and go...I always feel if it was meant to be then it will happen...

[Pryde Foltz]

I hope the wine was cheap and cheerful. Life is for living, my friend. Thank you, Rutherford.

[rutherford]

written thinking of days when I was single and felt like I should go out more but didn't.