THE GREATEST DATE
by Joanna Gilman Hyde
My Host picked Me up in The Late Afternoon
March 31st 1993
I wasn’t ready still in My Bathrobe
My Host patted Me “Don’t worry You can take It off
when We get there — They’ll be Delighted”
We arrived early
at Windows On The World
at the coat check where men without jackets
borrow jackets I disrobed
walked in on The Arm of My Host
to be seated at A Table for Three
My Host coaxed “What would You like to drink?”
“I Think Old-fashioned” It came
It came again and We switched
to Champagne
The Menus appeared
I couldn’t make up My Mind
My Host had to indicate The Appetizer:
Oysters On The Half Shell and Someone
dropped in A Pearl for Me to find
for Me to contemplate
I turned The Pearl in My Mind
questioning Its Meaning while
My Host laughed
“That’s Nothing!”
On Came The Lights
The Chandeliers
from the ceiling came streaking down
in Silver all around Me
on My Head and in My Naked Lap —
“Oh My God, Oh My God! OH MY GOD!”
so dazzled stunned I could not eat
The Main Course
I got up to get My Robe
I tried to leave
–
My Host was determined
to have Me
so We walked Arm-in-Arm
to a little cafe down by The Hudson
where We sat in Semi-Darkness
This Time I found My Mind
in the quiet I ordered My Dessert
I picked It because of Its name
THE MEANING OF LIFE
was chocolate in every form
even the whipped cream was chocolate
deep in Its centre was a hollow filled
with a kind of gelatin I had never tasted
could never describe
but It was the most delicate flavour
ever to grace My Tongue
–
I decided to stay There Forever
but The Host wanted Me to Dance
The Host wanted Me to Revel in All That Had Been Known
All That Could Be
to See All Things New and so I did
I did for weeks its seemed until
The Night-time Drive
along an empty Thruway
to arrive at The House
of The Untiring Host
on No Sleep
–
at The Great Black Cloister
inside a Cultivated Retreat
The Host announced “I have a Visitor
I would like You to meet” and again
I was shy
being in My Bathrobe but The Host assured Me
that would be fine
This Visitor Could Take Anything
“Is He In?” I asked exhausted
“He’ll be with You at 10:22”
I had no choice but to wait
sitting in an ungainly Waiting Room
–
What was Happening?
–
At The Appointed Time
The Host lead Me down a long corridor
to a Hidden Room
not really a room — An Examining Room
The Host had Me sit
in The Examining Room until
The Visitor arrived
not much taller than Me
The Visitor had quick eyes
a half smile which was good
enough for Me
He didn’t say Hello being The Visitor
but wasn’t I a Visitor too?
–
I Knew Then I Had Been Tricked
–
“I have something To Tell –” I blurted to My Visitor
“These things happen –” He hedged
again I had No Choice:
“I Have Something I Am COMPELLED To Say”
–
My Visitor stood with Folded Arms
–
I pleaded, “Would You Believe — Would You Accept What I Have To Say?”
His Arms Unfolded, “Yes Go Ahead Tell Me”
–
“There Is A God.”
–
And Our Host is Still Laughing His Goddamn Head Off
“The Greatest Date” is in every way as compelling and brilliantly written as “The Script”.
It leaves the reader wanting more..
Thank you Jackie. I wasn’t sure it measured up to The Script. Maybe I should re-blog The Script over to here.
Reblogged this on joannagilmanhyde.