I was unaware
of your kiss at first, on forehead
and cheek, maybe even on
my foot – you know, when babies’
feet are cute and pristine, before life
gets too serious and rinds the soul?
Then later, and with equal ignorance, I
noticed your lips, though they’d always
been there. Now the way you walked
and talked
and brushed your hair – suddenly
you were magic! A vision! My lips
against yours, the most natural
avenue in life and love. Then
all too soon, you gave me air
kisses at weddings
and christenings
and funerals, the social graces
that count, their passion sucked
out by convention. And right now
I’m all too aware of
your kiss, on my forehead,
my cheek once more, though you stay
clear of my foot. You realise
that I am slowly leaving, retreating
into soft make-beliefs
of self, sheaths which soothe
the cool airs of emptiness
poem © copyright David F. Barker 2013
Ciscography 
Hi David, this is love- ly ! 🙂 xx
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Beautiful piece
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oh I do like this one!
)0(
maryrose
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Such a poignant poem with humor too, and much sweetness. k.
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So sad…
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wow i can feel the seperating in this…th drawing away…a little less intimate and much more formal you know….the emptiness at the end is felt…
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Excellent!
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Hi. This is a delightful poem. I like: ‘rinds the soul’, ‘and brushed your hair – sudeenly’, and ‘stay clear of my foot’. I love the last three lines. Jane
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Hi. Sorry… will you edit ‘suddenly’? my finger hit before my brain approved…. jane
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Love it! Especially this line: before life gets too serious and rinds the soul?
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Wow! This is really something quite beautiful, David. I love the imagery. Interplay between the sweet baby feet and the innocence of first kisses is really lovely! Bittersweet ending…can you tell I really liked this? 🙂
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Yes, thank you!!! Am very grateful to you for reading it.
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a young person could never have written something like this!
so very nice and sadly true.
so sorry that i missed this/these; i’ll blame our horrid weather (rainy season) and horrid internet.
your posts are always welcomed and appreciated!
z
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