By Gala
Date: 23 December 1999

Double Expresso

My usual hot beverage is cappacino---
frothy, light, and frivilous
but sitting across from you
with those damned knowing eyes
daring me to meet your glance
I knew I needed something stronger.
Expresso. Double.
And you smiled at me,
ordered the same
and did that thing with the looks.
Oh damn---and I'm sixteen again,
fighting for the poise
that has been my portion for years.
This witty tongue has gone dry,
and is sticking to the roof of my mouth---
no. I lied.
I'm keeping it there
with threats of dire results
if it ventures out
with any thought at all
of tasting your kiss.
This heart will stop the happy leaping
when we finish each others sentence,
or laugh at something no one else understands.
This brain will stop thinking kindred soul,
and you will stop looking at me
as if you could still feel
my hair wound around your fingers,
and see my mouth softly swollen from your kiss.

Expresso---make it a double.