The Virtual Waltz (Duet with Jenny Bienemann)

Bonnie worked long hours on a night shift assembly line Hands so cracked from the boxes she packed, they always smelled of Vaseline Once home from the factory, she was socially networked online With a romantic heroine profile photo scanned from an old magazine Bonnie has over 200 hundred friends, few of whom she has met Friends of friends, some women, some men; some famous but most were unknown Good at fantasy farming, she has livestock and a pig for a pet The farm’s just a game, but all the same, it keeps her from feeling alone. Love letters unwritten, a heart so hidden it might as well be in a vault Real friends and lovers remain undiscovered when you dance the virtual waltz In Freddie’s employee file were written the words ‘painfully shy’ But a diligent worker who demonstrates fervor for tasks of the digital kind Quiet, productive; not too assertive; away from his employer’s eye He was online as Frederick, Lord of the Longbow in a war waged just in his mind. Making his way through the levels, he’d tally the quest’s rewards Reach Valhalla, drink from the chalice; vanquish the Princess’s guards With laser focused devotion he braved dragon, wizard and sword He knows it’s only a world where the lonely retreat when life proves too hard The magical farmer and make-believe archer are destined never to meet Living in separate fantasy worlds, their houses are on the same street…