Oh Sweethearts

And slowly we’m sweethearts

atween the wet grass all river-licked,

lime dust in our hair

and both of us so frightened,

blind as moles. But wanting

something. Wanting.

We’m side-by-side on the grass,

me barefeet in the water,

bowing our heads, gentle

as osses at the water trough.

I can feel his shoulder ashiver

and it makes me bold, makes me jumpy,

so I hold out me ond

till he takes it and kisses the palm

like he’s eating sugar from it

and we’m off ...

Notes:

This poem originally appeared in The Poetry Review. You can read the other poems in this exchange in the May 2017 issue.

Source: Poetry (May 2017)