If you do not let/
someone in, you may not find/
what you’re longing for.

The shoe that sits in your closet/
but is never worn/
is not a shoe at all/
but an ornament/
ment/
to adorn/
a dark, hidden space/
that only you/
know about.

I tried 2 find/
a Picassian black beret/
so as she sipped wine,/
we’d write and play/
like brilliant minds/
having our say./
But she couldn’t find/
time/
and it rained.

Dates I have/
out the wazoo;/
and I’m glad/
4 midnite offers, 2!/

But she I adore/
says I amuse her,/
nothing more./

How can I stir/
a boiling pot/
simmering not/
4 me?

We could IM/
if U want to/
but I would spoil U/
against Italian shoes/
and cause U
to sing romance blues./

So at ten/
– Tuscan seven – /
we could be in
poetic heaven.

Her ‘together in/
spirit’ feeling is still like/
dancing with myself.

She returned/
determined/
men/
r like shoes./
While she, my muse,/
extolled the virtues/
of Italian loafers/
and boots worn by gofers,/
she didn’t look/
2C/
me/
barefoot.

How r things at thy store today,
o thou Rubyette?
Didst thou awaken early
b4 thine household
2 think fondly on me,
& hope for things not yet,
which soon may be?

My first email to someone was, I thought, poetic. It’s followed by a response to her return email, and a improv limmerick

(sent Sept. 16, 2010, 11:47 am.)
How 2 Xplain reading your entire profile
It made my fingers tremble?
It fired my imagination?
It dropped me to my knees in gratitude?
It caused my jaw to first drop, then hurt because I was smiling so broadly?
It made me wonder if our first date could be a picnic on the beach, followed by dancing under (not with) the stars, in the sand?
It made me ask myself: “What do I have to do to be introduced to this fascinating goodness?!?”
——————–
My writing, like my personality, is deep, heart-felt, often humorous if the mood strikes (which it often does), but also sincere and, sometimes, intense.
Art is like that. Creativity is like that. Sincere. Heart-felt. Intense.
Some artists create with metal and stone, using drills, heat and tools to shape and mold their wares.
Some use canvas and brush to create visions of beauty.

My canvas is your computer screen.
A keyboard is my pallet to give words meaning.
And you have been my Muse today,
for which gift I can only say:
Thank you, for thoughts gentle and serene.

—-
[Postlude: We met, in person, at an apple cider pressing party near her home. We spoke briefly, awkwardly, as I helped with the cider press, the sterilization, the work of making apple cider, and she mingled with the other guests.
I haven’t seen her since.]

Before the invention of email, I used to write direct mail pieces. I got into a “banter” with another direct mail writer … and wrote “The Greatest Direct Mail Ever Written.” Unfortunately, my computer battery died before I could send it, and it was lost. SO, I wrote “The Greatest Direct Mail Ever Written: A Tribute”, but the storage of the site where I wrote it only held it for a few days, then erased it.
BUT, here is the rest of that conversation (as an example of a good direct mail piece)!

Sent Date: 9/9/2010 8:37:13 AM
From: Me
Subject: [Name], I’m frankly puzzled:
Yes, it’s true, [NAME]: Even though my name is [ME], I’m frankly confused. Why?
Simple!
You SAY you want a great guy.
You CLAIM you want to find someone who is interesting, funny and a host of other things ….
and yet, you take no actions to forward the process.

And that’s what puzzles me.

[NAME], I can write these witty, clever emails all day long. You can laugh all day long. BUT …
unless you take action now, all you’ll end up with is a great memory and clever copy.

So I’m asking you directly: Do you have the confidence …
the ability …
the creativity …
the panache’ …
the DESIRE …
to take that next step?

If you do, I’m going to give you a SUPER-SECRET CODE to respond. Don’t pass it on to anyone else. It’s only yours, [NAME].
Are you ready?

================================================================
[ my email]
[ at the jodelling email ]
[ dot com (also works for IMing) ]
================================================================

That’s right, [NAME]! That’s [NAME]’s own secret passcode. (It’s also an intelligence test, so see if you can figure it out!)

Let’s see if you are ready to take it to the next step! But act TODAY! The clock is ticking!

Good luck!
[ME]

PS: Sometimes the intelligence test is messed up by technology, so if you don’t “get it”, contact me right away! Either way… I’ll talk to you soon!
———-
My A/B Test: Trying something late Sent Date: 9/15/2010 9:49:06 PM
Pretty simple test, really.
I know my last email *(complete with Johnson Box) was read.
I know my last email *(complete with PS) was read.
I know my last email *(complete with a compelling quiz/test) was not responded to.
Was it because I sent it in the morning?
I guess I’ll find out.
————
So here’s the “B” part — I’m sending this email in the morning. Will you respond? or should I write you at 1 a.m. to get a response?
Dave
PS: I appreciate that you are super-busy … as we all are. Who would want to get to know someone who wasn’t. BUT, [name] — when do you take time for [name]?
And, yes, I do mean what you might think it means: Time with Me IS time for [name].