The Good Old Flirting Has Died

A prelude to a prompt quick-fire affair, Nor ever lovelorn heart's innocent heist, Routine good manners nor eyeful flutter, Frisson nor frown furrowed, though deemed fairest, A harmless hailing from the male of sex, Nor yet the fair sex warmly acknowledging In a casual way that tends to relax, Whatso… all show a dearth of good old flirting. Perhaps people are no more ruled by heart, Maybe, their sex simmers much more in head, Or male mystique has turned into tame art, Gallantry’s nigh but gone, chivalry’s dead. Seems, Venus shines dim in the evening stars, And lost has its ruddy red, warring Mars. ______________________________________________ Sonnets | 06.10.2011 | Poet’s note: The art of good old flirting it seems has gone almost dead. The traditional male etiquette, chivalry, and gallantry survive today only in novels of ere. An average young man has turned timid to make even an eye contact, perhaps for the fear of being charged for sexual harassment or for sheer personal embarrassment. So much as even a harmless appreciative compliment has dried down in civil society. Even in India, the land of nymphs, apsaras, naayikas, and dasis, flirting as a fine art has got all but frozen. In a somewhat humorous tone, this sonnet explores why. The answer is ventured in the Volta voicing from the 9th line.