it took me by surprise
the sheer size
of the lump
in my throat
as i walked, and you talked
of love, in a time gone by
i remembered the weight of touch taken for granted
---
no so long ago.
on king street
as a band played
you kissed me to
the beat of a drum,
as passerbys gasped
and we laughed,
unphased by affection,
displayed publicly.
it was new orleans, after all.
after dinner
after dark
and the stars were out, stark,
as the air was humid,
but not so much that we weren't
moved to touch...
walking through le marigny under the full moon
--
how naive it seems now
to have not taken more time
as to remember how
hands like that
let when i didn't know
i would melt
missing them.