The Dark Kiss Poem by Lonnie Hicks

You are dark delight;
I am scattered vanilla.

I notice you in crowded meetings
where my eye centers
on you,

I have taken you into my rooms
risked all to to have you
to myself,

braved cold and rain
in clandestine rendezvouses;

and I confess
you are the sweet
I must not have.

My world and your world
must not meet.

You're forbidden to me
yet
in my mouth
you're my bit of heaven;

I have
swallowed all your kisses.

I shouldn't have
so you'll have to live
for the time being
in my fantasy
where my longing
for you is
perfection,
delicious, semi-sweet
and non-calorific.

But haunt me you do
so just once a year
I allow myself
your single kiss.
whose tracings
perforce
must last an entire year
except when dreaming you
where I can have as much of you
as the night allows.