I

He says, Can I have directions?
She says, To where?
He says, To your heart.
Get lost, she says, and leaves.

II

He says: If beauty were time, you’d be eternity.
She makes a face and leaves.

III

He says, If I received a nickel for every time I saw someone as beautiful as you, I’d
have five cents.
She puts a nickel on the bar besides his sweating glass and leaves.

IV

He says, I am not drunk, I’m just intoxicated by you.
She groans and leaves.

V

He says, Do you have a map? I’m getting lost in your eyes.
You can’t get lost when you’re already lost, she says and leaves.

VI

He says, Most people like to watch the Olympics, because they only happen once
every 4 years, but I’d rather talk to you cause the chance of meeting someone
so special only happens once in a lifetime.
Watch this, she say, and leaves.

VII

He says, You’re so beautiful that you made me forget my pickup line.
She says, Try "Hello." It works better.
He says, Hello.
Then she leaves.

VIII

He says, If I had a star for every time you brightened my day, I’d have a galaxy in my hand.
A galaxy? What you’d have is a vacuum, she says, laughing at him as she goes out the door.

IX

He says, Me without you is like a nerd without braces, A shoe without laces,
aSentenceWithoutSpaces
She gives him a hard look.
He sighs and leaves.
And she orders another gimlet.

© 2011 by David Holper.
Used with the author’s permission.