Sooner or later
♓
He never had the words
tongue-tied or just blind-sided
it was all the same
He saw her, she smiled
he lost his nerve when
he tried to say her name
She would sit next to him
when seats weren’t assigned
and pass him notes
It made him sweat
as he stuffed them in his pockets
saving every word she wrote
Four years this went on
he was there for her
and she for him
Lunch together, after school
almost every day
til daylight dimmed
They both grew older
he still never talked
so she said enough for them both
At graduation she pulled him aside
he was taller than her now
after fours years of growth
“I’m going away to college,”
she told him
apprehension in her eyes
He still kept silent
though he seemed to strain,
his lips like a vise
She said, “Why don’t you hold me?
Why don’t you hold me and kiss me now?
I want you to hold me…
Why don’t you hold me?!
Why don’t you hold me and kiss me now?
Why won’t you just hold me..?”
Suddenly his arms
were around her
his lips pressed against her own
She returned the embrace
though unexpected
her apprehension gone
When they finally parted
eyes wide
and breathing quick
She asked him “why?
after all these years…
this is the moment you pick?”
He opened his mouth
then closed it, swallowed,
opened again and said:
“I love you, I love you”
voice strengthening,
he took a deep breath
“I love you, it’s the only words
I could ever think
when I was with you
I love you, I love you,
since you first sat next to me
I love you, I love you
I want to hold you
I want to hold you and kiss you now
I want to hold you…
I want to hold you
I want to hold you and kiss you now
I just want to hold you
I just want to kiss you now.”
