Your kiss surrounds, envelops and overwhelms me. Like a drink of cool water in deserted climes, you bring me to life. As oxygen to a mountain hermit – I have lived so long without you, but now you awaken my body, breathe fresh strength and new wisdom to my limbs and my mind. I look upon you and I am reborn. I look upon you and I know beauty in its true form. No platonic fancy, this, but love. Of a depth to drown out all the world, and with time, a gravity to outlast the stars themselves, returning over and again to itself, refreshed, renewed, remade in its own image, and I fall – twisting and turning, over and over, toppling, spiralling – I fall in kaleidoscopic dreams and I know peace.
kiss
A Haunting Spot
I smiled at the man who had turned up to tea,
Though out of the blue he’d appeared.
He seemed wistful and sad when he sat beside me,
When I spoke to him, he turned and stared.
So I plucked up my courage, began to relate
All the funny events of my day.
And as he braved a smile, so the breeze did pick up
‘Til the willows were starting to sway.
Then how we both laughed, at the ways of the world.
I was pleased that my tales made him grin.
And we stayed sitting there, on a bench in the cold
As the evening was drawing in.
Then he turned with a sigh and his primary air
And remarked at how sorry he felt
That I soon would be leaving him lonely out there
As he spoke such words, my heart did melt.
For he looked in my eyes and the fondness I saw there
Did take all my breath quite away.
And he thanked me for letting him share in my life
For he’d had a most pleas’rable day.
And as it grew dark and we walked hand in hand,
He turned one last time and we kissed.
Then I opened my eyes to the streetlamps aglow
As my handsome young man turned to mist.
I was terrified, sure, as I ran for the door
For my beau had dissolved in my arms.
And I never, not once, had expected to find
Him a phantom, of such mortal charms.
Now I often do sit by myself for a bit
On the bench we shared, down by the stream.
But never again has he come for a chat
And I wonder now, was it a dream?
Redemption
I gave to you what you needed
At a time your need was great.
I promised you such sweetness
To wipe away all hate.
I willingly, not blindly
Devoted time and care.
And gifted you with hope for us
And things we both could share.
A kiss may mean a promise
A bargain there was met
I’ll honour it in fullness
But still I shan’t forget.
I took you on my journey
I helped you find your way.
I guided you through life when
Darkness was leading you astray.
And yet you do not see me
Do not know my name
For you were my redemption
And honour was the game.
And now the journey’s over
And you strong as before.
Yet my quest has not ended.
I must go on once more.
I’ll leave you now in sunlight
With gifts for you to give
I wish you well, but I must go
Another life to live.
I’ll kiss you as in parting
And point you on your way
Though you may fear your heart will break
Your strength will show today.
The kiss I gave, a bargain.
I did what I could do.
I now must travel my own path,
The rest is up to you.
Pucker up
A kiss may conjure many things,
Some dream of lust, others of rings.
A sleeping princess, it awakes,
A cut-knee mends, a promise breaks.
And all these thoughts occur to me
To see you there upon one knee,
Knowing, though ignorance was bliss,
This whole world turned, upon your kiss.
Katherine Shirley 