Kiss Me As If Poem by gershon hepner

Kiss me as if it were the last time,
and I your favorite pet and pastime,
for that’s the only way that kissing
becomes no dreadful way of missing
the target at which my lips aim
when I, attempting to untame
your passion, help to make you play it
again for mine, and to obey it,
while you with deep voice tell me all
your story, which I love though tall.

Inspired by a response to my poem “Casablanca” by Tom Byers, who teaches English at the University of Louisville:

Dear Gershon,

Many thanks for your note and for the delightful poem about what is probably my favorite movie. I have taught Casablanca many times, and over the years my favorite line in the movie has evolved. I went through many of the best-known ones, but now it's when Ilsa says to Rick, 'Kiss me-as if it were the last time.' I was telling this to a Dutch friend-a tall woman with a very deep voice-and her comment was: 'That's the way we should all kiss-all the time.'

Thanks for writing, and for including me in your catatonic cult,

Tom Byers

12/30/09