Plus One

You were Invited
to the Party and
the Invitation
specified You were
Welcome to be
accompanied by
a Companion,
a Plus One.

As Usual,
You had little
Choice
In The Matter.

As You donned
Your favorite
Habiliments,
hoping to Hide
inside zippers,
behind buttons,
beneath bright fabrics,

Fear appeared and
draped Its arms
around Your neck,
Whispering the usual
Warnings.

“Remember,
You have the Right
to Remain Silent,
to look for
Hiding Places,
to slip away from
the Small Talk and
Garrulous
Gratuitous
Chatter.”

But this was not
As Usual.

You peeled Fear
from Your
Sovereign Self.

This Time
Your Plus One
would be
Love,

Grinning at You
in the preparatory Mirror,

Alight with
Devious Designs
to turn
Gratuitous Chatter
into the
Semantics of
Soul Embracing Soul.

(Photo by antenna-ZDN; UnSplash)