French kiss
A Northern poem about the beginning of long-lasting love.
Deeper into the countryside
We passed abandoned carsĀ
On our way to other dangers
Earlier it had been sleet and rain
Sleet and ice, sleet and sleet
We were girls who had been on the road
Passing in December-storm fashion, undaunted
Exhilarated by our escapeĀ
From the regular
We arrived breathless
Absorbed by the suburban mall afternoon
Strollers and balloons
Convenient condom vending machinesĀ
In the restrooms
We kiss-kissed
Except me and him
Lip proximity made it too dangerous
The curious took note of this
The old guitar had to come insideĀ
We crossed the parking lot
Hunched like melting snowmen.
I smelled the leather of his jacketĀ
That the men here are so fond of
His feet were wet, as was his beard
I was thinking at high speed
About a kiss, a real kiss
One where they look you in the eyesĀ
Before and after
Tasting your actual thoughts
The way you childhood-dreamt it
Kissing for god-knows-how-long
Endlessly, on cruise-control
Water streamed from melted slushĀ
In wintery rivers
As I stumbled into the vanās dark interior
Unprepared but ready
I would act first
A defense grown robustĀ
In the rich soil of childhood trauma
He was leaning in just slightly
Trying to deceive the weather
When it happened