By Lisa Shields
Date: 8 March 2001
Need And Want And You
Need And Want And You
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You laugh softly,
wrap me in wide arms
and look at me with the sort of tenderness
that stops my breath short.
You have not even begun to touch me,
and my breath hangs in tatters
and I am lost again
in a way that is achingly familiar these days.
May it was,
a night made for dancing close
warm but cool enough
for me to feel comfort in your arms.
You are warm skin against me,
and when I buried my face in your shoulder,
you would have none of it---
lifted my chin on one finger,
and made me look in your eyes
as the other hand pulled loose the pins
letting loose the chestnut fall.
And when you took one strand,
and raised it to your lips
as if it were precious spun metal
i learned what it was to tremble.
Dressed---covered---clothed,
yet more achingly vulerable than skin
could ever make me,
I reached for your hand with fingers gone traitor,
and as your hand closed over mine
I knew that what would come
was not casual taking,
no moment of simple pleasure
but a sealing akin to a vow.
And I knew that if I did not stop right then,
that we would be forever.
And I did not stop you,
could not stop myself,
even knowing that my promise was given---
and I could see by the joy dancing wild in your eyes
that you had waited a life for such a promise,
and now were accepting mine as true coin.
That first night,
I became more than your lover.
And now I am more than your love.
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