It was a date kind of place, great music, good food, 

ambient lighting creating the mood,

and filled with couples, who, tensely at tables

were treating their dates like 360 appraisals

We’d set up the meeting, things were just going great,

Although she refused to call it a date,

It was time, I’d deduced, to put cards on the table

for a chance of romance, I was willing and able

My opening gambit, going full steam ahead,

Had caused her to blush with the words that I said,

I told her she had such a beautiful face,

Embarrassed, she said she was glad we touched base

I showed her my gantt chart, which tracked the trajection,

Of romantic plans, which she gave some inspection

Not keen on my thoughts on a love for the ages

She said I don’t think we are on the same pages?

Back and forth we conversed as I argued my case,

Ignoring it wasn’t the time or the place,

When reality bites, you can feel out of touch,

I was keen to find love, and her, not so much

Then she fended off my endearing advance

With management speak, at every given chance

No matter the positive mindset I shared

It was like she’d switched off, and barely cared

I think about you all the time, you’re amazing

Have you wasted your time simply navel gazing?

We’re good together, that’s surely not in dispute?

She muttered some thing about low hanging fruit

I had plans for our future, an away day mapped out

She said that’s no vision I’m talking about

Maybe one day a daughter, or even a son?

She asks we perhaps circle back on that one

Together we could boil the ocean, trim the fat

We could change the game, what do you think about that?

She paused and smiled as she took my hand, 

it felt insincere, perhaps overplanned

She sighed and said, so here’s the elephant in the room

The nuts and bolts of love over Zoom

You see, you don’t know what love is, If you did, it would show

Can you move the needle? get your ducks in a row?

Her critique continued, I had this weird feeling

Like someone was trying to break through a glass ceiling,

I want someone proactive thinks outside of the box

Who can hit the ground running, and blow off my socks

I’ve been running the numbers, it is what it is

When I leave you, there won’t be a thing that I miss

I can see how you’re trying to clear these roadblocks

But I haven’t the headspace for love on the rocks

Now that reality bit, that struck a chord,

But I wasn’t about to fall on my sword

Tried to get on the front foot, keep my resolve,

I said what is the problem we’re trying to solve?

The synergy’s wrong, you’re sad and I’m bored

A luxury we simply cannot afford,

Don’t text me. Don’t call me, don’t try to be cute,

If you reach out on teams I’ll just put you on mute

So, going forward, at the end of the day

I gave 110% but love still fell away,

It all went sideways of its own accord,

So for now its back to the drawing board

Call it not enough bandwidth, a paradigm shift,

When I drilled it all down, we were too far adrift,

Within seconds, she’d left, like the setting sun

Must be a different sea she was sailing on

Back to silo working, I take a thought shower,

But still dream of her every minute, every hour,

The uncomfortable truth, the takeaway here,

Is that love is not a project to steer

So, bite the bullet, you will be fine,

Get your feelings over the line.

It’s mission critical in the love lingo scene,

To always, always, say what you mean

G Turner 2025