When commercial television stations start producing appalling shows such as Married at
First Sight we all realised that the art and beauty of words is being lost. Perhaps that
should be past tense; it has been lost.
The most common words of love and beauty and affection these days (and we hear it
regularly) is “love ya babe”. How sad. Is this really the best we can do? Shakespeare
would turn in his grave if he heard that phrase! So would all of the Romantic Poets.
Here is my attempt to create a love story for and from todays society using texting and
emails and phone calls. The two central characters are fictitious and don’t relate to any
real life people.
Rome and Bella live a long distance apart. Bella has been married and is now divorced
with three children (two girls and one boy). Rome is divorced and has two adult boys. They
met over twelve months ago after being introduced by friends. He is an advertising
copywriter and she is a high school teacher. This is an incomplete record of their
friendship using copies of any texts or emails that existed at the time of writing.
Rome: Just having a coffee at home with you (in my mind). It seems so long since we
spoke but it was only last Saturday evening.
Bella: I’m having a glass of wine and thinking of you.
Rome: Haha, I believe the wine part. You are so funny Bella, how can I live without you?
Xx
Bella: I’ve had a not-so-rushed day. It’s been great. Cheers!
Rome: You are too much Bella! Please don’t respond but I have just seen this quote,
“Love is just like measles; the later in life it is the more severe the consequences”. Xx
Bella: Hahaha! I really like that! (emoji 2 glasses of red wine)
Rome : Pls stop drinking! Do you like these lyrics? “You said you were a fairy princess/
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said you were a shooting star/ you said we’d go to Bora, Bora/ now look where the hell we
are!
Bella: Oh that is so funny! I like it even more than the first! (emoji 2 champers)
Rome: I am positively, completely and utterly smitten by you....poor, poor pitiful me. xxxxx
Rome: (days later) Just having coffee and not thinking of you xx
Bella: I’m having some wine and thinking of you! xx (emoji 2 glasses of red)
Rome: I believe the wine part haha! You are so funny and clever
Bella, how can I live without you near me? xxx
Bella: (Days later) Thinking of you x
Rome: I’ve had endless thoughts of you all day. Did Natalie (Bella’s daughter) get anything
worthwhile from the writing tips I sent her? I thought they might help.
Bella: Lucky me! (two glasses of red emoji). What tips did you send Natalie? Have I
missed something? Xx
Rome: Have you missed something!! I held my breath all day yesterday waiting to hear
what you thought of my latest T V commercial which I had just finished and to find out if
the tips for Natalie had arrived. So I waited and waited. I’m still waiting haha!! I’m not
working today but you sound very busy. Talk soon I hope. And hope some more! xxx
Rome: I just need to tell you that all the stars from a midnight sky don’t match your eyes. I
wrote something similar previously but not the same I hope! Xxx
Bella: I would never tire of your lovely sentiments... and no, they are not the same and
even if they were I wouldn’t mind xxx
Rome: You will tire of me one day Bella and when it occurs I will go quietly, without anger,
and with thanks that I loved you. (Pls don’t txt back) xxx
Rome: Hello Beautiful. Lovely day! Or is it just the way you make me feel? I wish I was
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with you or near you xx
Rome: Where are you Bella? I would love to put my arms around you xx
Rome: This is not a game Bella! I’m going to keep asking you to marry me until you do xxx
Bella: Why Rome, I thought I made it quite clear....I couldn’t possibly marry a man who
didn’t share my feelings for The Eagles! (two red wine emoji)
Rome: In that case Bella I’m converting my faith to become an Eagles lover, if it means
having you close.
Bella: Haha, well in that case I will start considering it (one red wine and one champers
emoji)
Rome: I often wonder if you will take off and run away from me one day! And how lightning
fast you will travel! Please don’t deny it or answer Bella as I don’t want to imagine it! (and
thanks for the wine ..I need it) x
Bella: Two red wine (emoji) and here’s to a lovely afternoon xxx
Rome: Bella, Bella so often you overwhelm me. I can’t cope, can’t think. I just dream xx
Rome: I have been studying the books of Isaiah Frey and Job Walsh so I can convert to
Eagleism. I look forward to the day when I can join you in this faith. My love for you is
strong enough to endure this severe test! Xxx
Bella: You are a legend...I’ll marry you tomorrow oh Ye of the Right Faith! (Clearly you are
in fine form today) xxx
Bella: Rome, Romeo, where o where art thou? (four missed calls)
Rome: Hello again Bella! I spent all day in NSW painting Joanie’s double garage so they
can tidy it up and use it for their business. It was a messy job and the drive to and from
was in heavy rain. Xx
Bella: I’ve been running around since 6 am so now I’m having a sit down (two coffee cup
emoji)
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Rome: It’s a bit of a worry Bella when I can’t make it through an hour without thinking of
you! What have you done to me? Did you use love potion number seventeen? Haha!
Bella: I’ve done nothing at all!!! I’m an illusion...good grief, I’m starting to sound like you ...
poetic! Xxx
Rome: I can deal with an illusion but I’ve only just realised that you have become my best
friend as well. xx
Bella: That is so nice...you are such a good kind lovely man xxx
Rome: Thank you Bella. You are luminous and light my life constantly. And I’m dreaming
again... I’m good at it... lots of training!!
Rome: You are not spectacularly beautiful but you are spectacularly lovely and so funny
and I just love everything about you.
Bella: Oh! That’s so poetic! I’m going to call you The Poet from now on!
Rome: I often wish that I wasn’t in love with you. Life would be simpler (but emptier as well
of course). I can never escape the waves of feeling as they endlessly wash over me. I
carry you around in my heart but there is a heaviness to it at times. I’m afraid that I will
forever be left longing for you which is why I use these words, which are all I have, to take
your heart away.
This simple love story is incomplete at the time of writing. The Poet.
John A Wilson, April 2017, Gold Coast
It is far better to have lost in love than never having loved at all.
The saddest thing in life is our inability to express love.
If you love someone, set them free.
Love: there is no limit.
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