An Alluring Line: A Poem by Carol Good

An Alluring Line

You did not sign
a contract
on a dotted line

To read this
through to
the very end

You have options
Perhaps you would rather
go make a sandwich

I, on the other hand,
have to hang in
for the duration

My obvious question
Did my alluring first line
hook you?

One of poetry’s traits
a hug and tug
of tension

Sometimes a line breaks
awkwardly
and we part ways

My task is to craft
an alluring first line
that flashes brightly

Catches your notice
makes you curious enough
to take the bait

Then our dance picks up pace
Words can now whir
as they unreel

I cannot know
where you will go
or how fast

I stay still
cast my line, jig it a bit, reel it in
then cast again