Poem for the Day: First Failed Boyfriend

First Failed Boyfriend

Fearless, he drove his Austin to Patonga.

Steep mountains, rock-slides, washaways and slush.

He travelled through these treacherous hills

on winter mornings, on his way to work.

Ambitious, he worked in Woolworths.

I fell in love with his movie-blue eyes

above the beets and sprouts.

He had a cute radio-voice when he announced the specials.

I got to know him, his face cocked in terror

when I asked him out.

‘Elliot Ness eyes,’ my mother said.

We did the courting thing, car ride to Patonga

every Sunday morning, hand-brake cuddle,

his hands going down, where I thought he’d be exciting –

Instead, he raised static on the radio’s lit face.

After six months, his heartbeat flapped

over a new girl in town.

Lined up at the Regal pictures,

dressed in white socks, sports shirt.

She pranced and spun like Elizabeth Taylor.

I tuned-in to Sunday night TV, The Untouchables –

Robert Stack. I fell in love with his undress-me eyes

over Coca-Cola and a bag of chips.