Saturday, September 20, 2025

the first time we talked

a long time ago, in a galaxy nearby...


AI generated image by dsnake1 at Fotor




the first time we talked


was at the staff canteen. during a break.
she smiled.

just a coke? there are curry puffs. they're free.

her eyes shone with a light like stars
or was i just too tired?

what's a nice guy like you doing in a joint like this?

what's a nice girl like you doing in a dump like this?

there is an informal understanding
that we would not talk to each other at work.
but we are not very understanding people.
and this is just a short break at work.
i took out a foul smelling beedie and light up.

at least better than ang hoon, she says, and laughs

and lights up a marlboro.
the air is bad outside on the club floor.
it is worse here.

she stubs out her cigarette

see ya, i have to return to my station

she gets up. her skirt is short. her legs are long.
she gives a short wave and smiles again.

i wanted to tell her
we should go for supper after ...

but she had disappeared back
into the vastness of the club.



27/05/2025
**********


"What’s the most important step a person can take?". The prompt at Friday Writings #189.





Scorpions - Send Me An Angel





Β© cheong lee san ( dsnake1 ) 2025

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12 Comments:

Blogger Jim said...

When I had my freedom for three years several times she would tell me that I wouldn't find a nice girl in a bar. Like I went to bars. Actually the lady I married to end my freedom found me.

21 September, 2025 01:57  
Blogger Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

The comment I was writing seems to have disappeared before I finished writing it, so I'll try again. I was saying that the mention of beadies took me back 50 years to the scent of clove cigarettes in Bali, too strong for me to smoke myself but I loved the smell. (Though I know not all beadies were made with cloves.) I'm glad you and I both stopped smoking in time to save our lungs and live to tell the tale. I'm not sure if this poem is about a step taken or not taken, but there seems a suggestion that the relationship did continue, so perhaps this couple got a second chance. I like to think so.

21 September, 2025 14:49  
Blogger dsnake1 said...

Jim,

Good for you you found your lifelong partner. πŸ˜€


Rosemary,

Haha, you got me talking about tobacco again.
In our part of the world, at least during my smoking days, clove cigarettes were pretty popular. I like its scent, some avoided it like the plague.
Beedis are for the "poorer folks" and smells up the place majorly. The ang hoon I mentioned has a choking smell. Only "tough guys" can handled that.
The "classier" cigarette are from the USA, and one of my favourites was a Turkish blend.

I am not advertising for tobacco.

I am glad I gave up the smokes, saves a load of money, but there were times in the past I can't go without one. And whether it helps in the creative process (looking at you, writers and painters) is up for debate.

And yes this couple got a second chance. πŸ˜‰

21 September, 2025 22:36  
Blogger Marja said...

Oh that was very descriptive I felt I watched the scene in the club through the smokey haze

22 September, 2025 16:35  
Blogger CRD said...

Hope they got to see each other again...outside the dump.

Got here through the Poets and Storytellers United page. Liked your take on the prompt.

Do drop by mine :)

Cheers,
CRD

22 September, 2025 20:16  
Blogger dsnake1 said...

Marja,

Thank you. πŸ˜€


CRD,

I can assure you they did.
Thanks for the visit to my blog. πŸ˜€

23 September, 2025 01:12  
Blogger rallentanda said...

Sounds like the one that got away:)

24 September, 2025 00:57  
Blogger dsnake1 said...

πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

24 September, 2025 20:45  
Blogger purplepeninportland.com said...

I like your take on this prompt!

27 September, 2025 08:33  
Blogger dsnake1 said...

Thank you, Sara.

28 September, 2025 23:06  
Blogger Priscilla King said...

Sweet, though smoky...

05 October, 2025 20:44  
Blogger dsnake1 said...

πŸ˜… πŸ˜…

07 October, 2025 00:16  

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