Missed Kisses Poem by Paul Hartal

She was slim and young. She walked sprightly on the street
and her smooth black hair braided into a chic ponytail
was flying in the wind, following her like a faithful kite.

I have not seen her for a while and was delighted to espy
that her gracious eyes still observed the shifting world
with their old and charming curiosity.

'Melissa? ' I said.

'No. Melanie', she corrected me.

I blushed. 'Anyhow, I still miss your kisses', I said.

'Do you? ' she said and gave me a reproachful look.
We exchanged a few words and then we went on our way.

A few days later I saw Melanie again. She was walking on a street
with a man hand in hand.

And then she disappeared from my life. Or so it seemed.
Two or three years passed by and one day
I noticed Melanie sitting alone in the corner of a coffee shop.

She was leaning over a laptop. But it did not take long
and as she looked away from the screen our eyes locked.
She gave me a surprised and frugal glance wrapped
in a cautious smile.

I pulled a chair and sat next to her.
We stared at each other in silence for a short while.
'Hello, Melanie', I said. 'How are you? '

She closed her laptop and put her coffee mug on the table.
'Do you still miss my kisses? ' she said.