I. Poem by Alison Rosalie

I can remember
the first time we met,
in an abundance of expectancy -
a pre-wreck signal flashing,
beeping on my heart's navigation.
I couldn't take my eyes from you,
as I tried to decipher
the gentle beauty resting, hesitating
below the self-loathing uncertainty.

I couldn't help but follow your stride
with my typical magnet eyes,
as you turned unsurprised,
and said blank, 'you're staring,
is there a reason why? '

and I looked away,
like it was an honest mistake
closed my eyes for the first of countless times,
and fashioned my own love tale.

where instead you catch my stare
and smile in place of a glare
and we live it out like a perfect pair:
driving as we inhale the highway air,
(and for a moment I really start to believe it's true,
you belong to me in sea of moments
and I belong to you


forgetting what I couldn't see,
that not a wish of it would ever be.)

and I swear I ceased swooning over that silly story
but still I just can't stop
staring.


II.

i can remember
the first time we kissed
as i fumbled and cautioned,
'i usually don't do this'
stared blank and scared
shaking shyly like a victim
and i let my fingers stride through your hair
like i only knew want for you
and your hands fumbled over my ridges
like those of every other girl you knew

and then too i blocked my sight
and imagined times on your motorbike
(with my arms outstretched, trying to take flight...)
made up kisses
and small wrongs between the rights,
(like my tiny frame between your bedsheets,
where i swear we related in the daylight)

you stopped the assurance
and dropped me like a beat.
flushing memory
of any love story.

(counterclockwise
with my heart.)