The Hardly Can Romance

Anyone who has ever attempted to win the eye of another has confronted that tricky, delicate matter of "breaking the ice" without being shish kabobed by the shattered shards. You want to boldly put your best foot forward, but you don't want to come on too strongly. You must in some way express a degree of interest, while maintaining a measure of mystery. And should you for any reason fail in your mission, you want to be able to retreat without exposing your soft underbelly to anymore trauma than it has already endured.

Many creative "vehicles" have been employed to deliver the blow to the infamous ice. Pick up lines, accidents that are not, chocolates, flowers, notes - and the list goes on. Although no single method is effective in all situations, I found that carefully crafted poetry generally yielded good results. Not the whimsical - "Roses are red, Violets are blue, I'd like to go on a date with you!" variety. I'm talking about verse that, if necessary, could possibly stand on its own, and when delivered with appropriate charm, is sure to at least flatter even the most uninterested of targets.

Before "settling down", I authored several such poems. Several because, even when my ice breaker swept her off her feet, she eventually regained her footing and all too often swept me under the rug. I'm aware that I broke my share of hearts in return because it goes both ways, but statistically speaking, very few find love at first sight and we can all expect a lot of failed attempts before we succeed.

On the bright side, dating was an opportunity to meet new people and make good friends. I can't say that there weren't any “casualties” along the way. Matters of the heart are deep matters. I can say, however, that in most cases I was able to salvage a friendship from the ashes of my unsuccessful campaigns. I've heard people say that it is a waste of time and perhaps even a slap in the face to ask the question, “Can we just be friends?” I admit (I've been there), that once you've shown all, or even most of your cards, it hurts to find out that you don't have what it takes to win the round. But it is also my experience that it doesn't hurt as much when you truly want what is best for the other person too, even if it isn't you. This perspective allows one to look at dating as a careful search instead of a once in a lifetime opportunity where you must bet it all on one hand and go for broke.
Philosophy and metaphors aside, I expect that most will easily connect with the poems and experiences in The Hardly Can Romance. Even those who found love at first sight, or when they weren't even looking for it, should be able to at least sympathize with the bashful bumblings of poor Hardly Can.

But even if you have no interest in experiences that resonate on your heartstrings, there is plenty in the Hardly Can Romance to amuse and entertain. The poems truly can stand on their own, and the sometimes awkward, yet “humorous in hindsight” events that surrounded them make them all the more interesting. In addition to the so called “love poems,” I have included my two most meaningful works, a chapter that recounts my development as a poet, and a few of my better contributions to the St. David High School newspaper.