take my hand, my love
from here on out
follow me, without a doubt
and I will take you to places
you've never been to
you've never imagined
you've never thought you ever could
because this time around
I believe, my love, that you can
go from the sad colors of the sunset
to a sunrise full of hope
go from the darkest night
of your weaknesses and fears
to the brightest morning
of braving new seas
of waking up next to
the desires of your heart,
and morning kisses, saying,
my love, you are not alone
I will be with you
from here on out
and I will take you to places
where your dreams were once lost
together—you will dream again
and I will take you to places
where your smiles faded
together—you will taste happiness
pure and everlasting
where you once lost love
together—you will go back and find
that as you take my hand
I will show you what loving truly is
how to love for real
show you, this time around
that you deserve to be loved

let me love you
with a love that is true
and that's from above
take my hand, my love

wooing/seducing: the where of the first kiss always

~for Robin Carretti, who loved it best~

‘tis true my battlefield tactical brought me  
many victories
when that was fool-desired

no chain mail, walled armaments, arms crossing,
all failed

to the single softest siege engine in my possession



and the passing passionately poems read
back ‘n forth, non-negotiable demands,
vicious but viscous
red lines,
day remainders of the contusions of night's angry passions
and the
disputed but muted disparities of both

nothing, no, never broke the spell of:

the first kiss, always upon the neck