Guardian Of Innocence Poem by Josephine Dunn

My friend, mein freund
For one and thirty years
You remembered my innocence,
Guarded it carefully
Nurtured it tenderly
Keeping it ever safe.

My friend, mein freund
When you look in my eyes
Who do you see?
Woman or child,
Mistress or waif?

When you hold my hand
Are we in that land
So long ago, so far away
When we were too young
And too naïve to kiss?

What if we had ……
What did we miss?

My friend, mein freund
Was it worth the wait,
Maturing all that time
Like a fine wine
Sweet on our lips.

My friend, mein freund
Are we still naïve
To believe
In innocent love?

Romance, my friend,
The strongest magic,
Sweeps away cares
Wipes away tears,
Turns back the years.

What if we do?
Are we just fools
To wait and dream
Of what might have been.

My friend, mein freund,
Keep my innocence safe,
For while we remember
How it was to be
Too young and too naïve,
It is never too late to relive.

August 2001