As you wished
I ran behind the blossoming cherry tree
Sat at the base of the thick trunk
Resting against the coarse bark, wincing in response
It scratched me through the shirt slightly
But I did not complain
I shut my eyelids tightly and counted to ten
Hastily jumped on my feet to turn
I scanned the place for but a trace, a sign
But you were not there
As you wanted
I ran in the petrol station with a wounded knee
Pleaded for help
When the poor young operator dashed for some hydrogen peroxide
I snuck behind one of the shelves
Grabbed the candy bar
And sprinted out of the store not looking back
Heard sirens on the way, too, but that did not concern me
Thus, I ran through the bushes to the rendezvous point
But you were not there
As you asked
I put on that expensive tuxedo
The smell of cologne saturating the heavy valley air
Looked in the mirror, not satisfied
However, that was not for me to judge, anyway
Called the taxi to take me downtown, southside on the 29th
'Twere supposed to go big that night, I reckon
So I turned the corner to hit the boulevard
Took a seat at the table in that quaint panetteria
But you were not there
As you said
I crashed the night in the forest park
Under the starlit sky I wandered restlessly among the trees
Read that text message at least a dozen times, too
"We've gotta talk, y'know
Meet me there after the lights go out"
I did so, and although I did not fancy the late hour
Decided against betraying the thought
Showed up at the fountain just as the park plunged into darkness
But you were not there
As you pleaded
Against my own better judgement, I thought
"This is ridiculous, and you know it **** well"
Hitched a ride to the still-golden fields of rye
Just outside the city, 'twas late November
But time never mattered to me
Nonetheless, in the fresh autumnal wind
Rested atop a hill not far from the memorial cross
I waited, I really have - for hours on end
But you were not there
As you promised
You wore that pretty red and white dress
Styled a ribbon in your auburn hair carefully
And stuffed a few treats inside of the picnic basket
"I'm sorry that I never fulfilled my word
I'm gonna make it up to you, okay?
Tonight at six. Deal?"
I knew that you would, this one time at least
Pondered and wondered if things could be different
So I grabbed my coat and went outside
But I was not there
I've always considered myself to be weaker at freeform than rhymed poetry; at least, I had fun writing this one. That's what matters, right?
