The Kiss 

The night ended with a kiss. 

It began with a smile

As she pulled in my drive

I stared for a while.

Her hair streaked with silver         Matched her sleek silver car

Her sight a delight

As third dates often are.

Our plans though not followed

Were simple and true

I drove us to Healdsburg

For conversing and brew.

The touch of her as

We walked on the square

In cadence together

Romance stilled the air.

The wine bar we arrived at

Was friendly and loud.

Good tastes and folk music

Scrunched in tight with the crowd.

Sipping and chattering

Teasing and bantering

We swayed to the music

With simple abandoning.

I took her all in 

From her head to her toes

Absorbing the essence 

This woman to know.

The bench in the park

The first rain drops fell

Then inside for espresso

Hot chocolate frothed well.

It was home after that

Dusk arriving to end

Our third date just in time

For the rains to descend.

All the songs in my heart

She wanted to hear

I was flattered, so gathered

My guitar and my gear.

The performance now done

To the past's syncopation

I bowed and I beamed

To her standing ovation.

She was up for the leaving

We hugged and I wondered

How to sneak in a kiss

And not make a blunder.

As we stepped out the door

Covering my head from the mist

She turned, said something

Then delivered the kiss.

Not expecting so soon

Sweet surprise on my lips

I melted and succumbed

While my heart flopped and flipped.

Laurie B. Ballard

February 2011