Your kind feedback is appreciated, Aatheera.

Thanks for reading and commenting, Storm. I'm glad you enjoy what I share.

Ah baloney
that's not abalone
haliotis
stinks less than the
rank halitosis
I got from
eating this sausage.
Italian bologna
or mollusk snails
cost too many clams
for me to shell out.

Snuzal Day

There's no intentions worthy of mention
if we never try.
So hang your hopes on rusted out hinges
and take them for a ride.

Islands in the Stream
Written by Barry Gibb
Recorded by Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

N. Stan Tayneos

I appreciate what you've expressed here, Tammy.

Yeah, if stereotyping got it right, I'm led to believe that "Oriental City" can be rough. A humble man probably would need to harden up to survive his one night stand... I mean stay.

Again, if stereotyping got it right, I'm led to believe that Thai women are irresistibly sexy. Extending the gardening metaphor... a humble man's stalk would surely become proudly erect in the presence of such alluring beauty.

Hey Beach... planes and trains traveling in the buff all the way to Thailand? Just remember that One Night in Bangkok "makes a hard man humble".

An uplifting delight to read, Aatheera.

Sounds like a circumstance where being a grower instead of a show-er could be advantageous.

Thanks, Peppa.

Brushed by the wind of her breath
on my cheek.
Sunlit the warmth of her closeness,
slowly melting many frozen frames.

My armored cloak freely sacrificed,
thrown over puddled snapshots,
soaking-up every scintilla.

While she is out of reach,
this savoring sponge
may cool my brow,
staving off the burning heat.

Disaster... I've flirted with that a few times.

Flirting with women in person, haven't tried it.

Attempting to interpret correctly and/or engage in flirting online, I have dabbled in. Here's where I am with that currently:

Discerning whether an interaction is flirtatious or simply playful banter continues to be a challenge for me.

It does feel good and validating to think a woman is showing that she's attracted to me, or interested in me beyond exchanging playful banter.

The few times that I had flirtatious intent in an online interaction, it was in the hopes of communicating attraction to, and interest in, getting to know the woman more personally.

How about a comedic "romantic" scene...

Life Stinks - Molly's Many Layers

Something tells me that my words may have struck a chord.

This is exemplary writing. Brava my poetess friend! It evokes images of a powerful spiritual journey. Ending each stanza with a descriptor, is an effective way of emphasizing the meaning.

Hey Pumpi.

I'm no Angel