In year nine, I took part in my only prom night

Juniors and seniors got the afternoon off to prepare we took it light

Each participant was handed a meal ticket

We’d exchange it at the door to guarantee our seat at the banquet

Sadly, the girl I desperately wanted was not in the building

Then, she was in year eight, without her it was an okay, if unideal, evening

The event coincided with Valentine’s Day, there were roses and dresses, tuxes and ties

Everyone was dressed to the nines 

When I turned up at the gate seemingly the whole high school faculty was there

They checked that our attires were square 

The prom differs from our American counterparts 

Bringing a date was not a must, though some proudly showed off their sweethearts

Beforehand, we had dinner via catering

On stage, this ball hog belted love songs his voice was so irritating

After supper, the dance floor was open

Later, there were class photos and group pics good there was no sign of McLovin

Did I dance enough? Should I have approached the prom queen? Was everyone accounted? 

Sure, I could’ve been more inclusive shoulda coulda woulda

On a bathroom break, I overheard big Christian Calleja

Turns out he had a thing for this chick he was irked that she had someone else

He and his friend, Don Anthony, thought they had the restroom to themselves 

When I emerged from the cubicle it was as though they’ve seen The Revenant

Should I have patted and reassured him? I said nothing turns out he was unpleasant

Once, Alex told me that Calleja always changes their conversations 

To a different direction; no doubt, that bugger did not have pure intentions

That night’s prom princess was my friend’s long-time crush

I thought that there’d be a repeat of this heart’s day bash

Next year, I mused, she‘ll be there

Guess what? In senior year, our prom was cancelled that wasn’t fair

This pissed everyone off no one wants to be a goner

I never got my chance with her

Spoke with her a few times she ogled as I smashed my intrams hoops audition 

Only to miss everything as I dumped basketball and became the scrabble champion

She asked me my name as we flipped through Guinness together

I saw that her hands were delicate she was clearly not a homemaker

I wrote her a recollection letter, it was stamped with ‘I like you’

She penned me one as well, complete with an astronaut she hardly knew me too

Some of my classmates suspected something was up

When asked to describe my crush, Jelai M. almost gave a close-up

It’s obvious when a guy likes a girl, she said

Indeed, a friend asked me on what I had planned ahead

I was content with watching her from afar

Was too young to date or drive a car

Her sibling was vehemently opposed 

Whenever I asked about her, they changed the topic and imposed

Indeed, after my nice game, the sibling was fuming

Couldn’t believe I could pull that off got primed for fighting

Before the sports meet, my lass kept turning up to play chess at our room

Could’ve reconnected with her to get out of doom

During the intrams match, the sibling asked me to check the team’s roster

Seemed so glad that my designation wasn’t on the folder

Ours was forbidden love, Romeo and Juliet, Rizal and Leonor Rivera

The sibling thought that I brought her bad chakra

The siblings seemed to be warm-blooded

Once, I was passing by her room she sweated

Maybe I should’ve made my move in front of her peers

That would’ve been some talking point: Topher takes his pick and faces his fears

Before Christmas, I served as an acolyte during Mass

Thought she was in class 

Turned out she remained at the gym

She spoke with her pal I could’ve talked to her on a whim

She must’ve been embarrassed I could’ve tried harder

She would’ve appreciated that, a guy who was an initiator

Once, I clocked her as she walked past

Her new friend and classmate lightly teased her this chick was a must

During graduation, my muse was one of the usherettes

There was a recess she came up was probably going to congratulate me

Just stopped short of doing so I was about to make conversation

Behind her, the sibling’s face was so fierce it was an abomination 

So, being the peacemaker, I left

My peer informed me that my girl looked distraught and bereft

Later, I was told that the sibling could do nothing

If I fought for her, the sibling could sulk all they wanted it wouldn’t change a thing

Like a love triangle, them on one side and us two on the other

In school, she inspired one of my poems was a real looker

After high school, I sent her messages she almost never responded

Forgot to tell her about the ‘killer eye’ maybe she would’ve conceded 

The sibling joked that her birthday is near she deserves a gift

I believe that they were just insulting me, if you get my drift

I levelled with her and she told me she was grateful that I was feeling that way

Unfortunately, that was a rare response she had little else to say 

They understood that, after the debacle, their sister would want no part of me

She’s finished her degree and moved on has a successful journey 

The sibling invited me in both Facebook and Friendster 

I ignored them as they were a romance wrecker

They probably felt guilty as they did not treat me right

They got what they deserved silence like the dead of night

I’ve pursued my passion but I’m still looking for my lobster

Hopefully, in God’s grace, I’ll find her