I sat timidly before the elderly female tarot card reader.
I was full to the brim with nervous anticipation.
The single question I posed was ‘Will I ever get married?’
Her response was to nod toward a bowl for a donation.

My ten-pound note earned me some attention.
‘We should examine your personal readiness’, she said,
‘To see if your energy is flowing or blocked.’
I felt as though she was already messing with my head.

‘What is influencing your love life right now’, she asked.
‘I’m 54 and without a girlfriend’. I soulfully replied.
‘Perhaps you want to remain single for life’, she posed.
‘I don’t think so’, I said, ‘I’ve always been keen on a bride.’

She carefully laid out a series of cards face down.
Slowly and deliberately she turned the first one over.
‘The Hermit – this is suggesting a preference for solitude.’
Not a good start I thought, I may not end up in clover.

Another card was turned, showing The Three Swords.
I looked from the card to her and then back to the card.
‘This shows blocked trust and the carrying of pain’, she uttered.
Flipping Heck, I thought, I really must be emotionally scarred.

‘This is not looking good’, I said, ‘Maybe I won’t ever be married.’
‘I can interpret from one card or many’, she mumbled.
She turned over a third card and then sorrowfully sighed.
‘The Devil card - unhealthy attachments’, and I visibly crumbled.

My future love life wasn’t looking rosy to say the least.
The fruitful turn of a final card was my lingering chance.
As if in slow motion the face of the card was unfurled.
‘The Lovers – deep alignment’, she shouted, and me, well I began to dance.