The First Realization of Love

water rippled like quicksilver,
molten and gleaming in the moonlight.
he stood against the railing,
her face –
a face all at once the plainest
yet also the most beautiful –
dancing on the waves before his gaze.

night collected around him
like a black flame coming on
a warm, flower-scented breeze.
the shadows were viscous –
seemingly thick enough to touch –
as they clung to him like the
perfumed kisses sent on a whisper.

he loved her –
just uttering that emotion aloud,
he savoured the word –
letting it slowly melt
like the innocent sweetness of
a first taste of sugar,
coating the surface of your tongue.

he could hear it in the beating waves –
the wind whispered it as it blew
promises of tomorrow into his ear,
and when the rain fell,
it was tears of happiness
washing away the broken pieces of
yesterday’s dreary life.