first you take her by the hand
that first night when you want to kiss her so badly
and you know that first kisses fail
you take her by the hand and don't say anything
maybe you just sit there for a few minutes
maybe for an hour
you are watching television
or maybe just watching the stars
it doesn't matter
and you are caressing her hand without really moving
or letting go
and then you get brave and you turn your head somewhat
and you hope that she turns her head too
and maybe she does and maybe she doesn't
but you are committed
so you've turned your head
and you bend so that your lips approach hers
and sometimes she'll want to kiss you
and then it's ok, it works
as well as most
but then she is unsure
or at least hesitant
and you end up catching part mouth and part cheek
and you feel like a fool
but she starts to like the idea
and is surprised when you don't try a second time
at least not right away
and you think that maybe if you were older
it would be different
but it's not true, it doesn't make any difference
you still end up thinking
about how wonderful it should be
and how hard it might be
it is so strange how we long for the touch of skin
and how it frightens us
Copyright © michael dennis/ South Western Ontario Poetry 1983
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