Alice
First Banquet
Alice Loughman -- the picture's as clear as a bell
A few seconds still frozen in time …
I'm dressed in my best -- corsage in my hand,
At fourteen, I'm still in my prime!
The once-a-year social -- a banquet of sorts
The closest we come to a ball --
(Sans dancing and drinking -- with faculty there --
Not really that much to enthrall … )
My brother and I will be singing a song --
The gymnasium's somewhat transformed --
Table settings for four, cafeteria-made food --
(Over Sterno -- sufficiently warmed).
I'm ahead of myself -- let me back up a bit.
I'm still over at Alice's place.
Her mother is showing me pictures of her
In the bathtub -- at two (just her face!).
The moment of truth has arrived -- there she is! --
Descending the stairs in a glide.
I feel like Clark Gable in
Gone With the Wind
Only butterflies flutter inside!
Her eyes never leave me -- I'm standing in awe --
Peripheral vision's shut down!
She's wrapped in green-silver from shoulders to toes
In an elegant, full-length, silk gown.
I'm speechless -- mouth open -- stunned --mesmerized -- awed --
I've never been so overcome --
And now I'm supposed to pin flowers on her?
I feel like I'm one giant thumb!
Those butterflies churning inside ramp it up.
The flowers must pin to her chest.
If I'm the one pinning, (with all looking on),
I'll prob'ly be touching her breast!
Then panic sets in. The only thing worse
Than embarrassing both me and her --
Would be if I stuck her there -- that would be bad!
My vision then started to blur …
The reason that silk shines so nice is it's smooth --
Quite lovely on any contour.
Try grasping it up between finger and thumb
Over breast -- with an audience -- Sure,
Easy for you, maybe. Not so for me.
I quit after three or four tries.
Kinda ruined the moment of bliss for a bit,
But it rescued my still-burning eyes …
The rest of the ev'ning was ever so sweet,
Though I couldn't tell you much, if you asked …
What we ate? Where we sat? What we talked about there?
It's like sunshine -- I just sat and basked!