The Heart's Portal Poem by Lonnie Hicks

How often must
by Trial or Circumstance
Love's Eyes capture me
overweened, extended?

How sweet is Nectar Sweet
the morning after?

Bedroom eyes at Nights Crest
Bedroom hair
lipstick smeared
in morning light.

How swift to the mirror
repairs to make
ego dreads
out the door
dishevelvings behind
Sunday mornings.

How often
Touches Needs
Overwhelm me
Judgment Flees;
but how else to know
if Love's Light
shines as bright
in the daytime and in the night.

If I am to lay forever there
in some marriage bed
is it not better to kiss now
rather than to carry
Regret's Burden.


That is why I practice
and advocate
the Mouth's Test
to know
whether there's enough
to mesh
beyond that
stopping
before
Morning Retires.

So I kiss to tell
if Hope lives
between our lips
before I risk more
and truth
even if flames live there
I will pause still further

before I risk
even
second base.

A wise woman
always kisses to tell
because only that special
kiss
will make her heart swell.

No, I am not the debutante
I merely precious guard
my Heart's Portal
as only I can
as only I must.