Always asked   politely  if   she could   a) hold  his hand, or   b) kiss him

posted Dec 4, 2007

But once    she didn’t  ask   at  all    once   she   kissed  him    on the cheek without
asking     politely           (  usually         a  humid   month )
politely     asked  if         she  could    hold   his     hand,       or kiss him             the  bench swayed  as  he said    thank you

Thank   you            for            understanding,  (  not a kiss   )    thank you
     this  could  have  been  a  disaster        he said     her    body    suddenly
              –  above,   across   the     road     –  then    she,   thank   god         sees   herself
at   a     distance,     sees     him          gesturing      –       thanking   her    for understanding   why  she  doesn’t  belong

this     not     belonging

not      a        sudden   concept    as

                        other things    can be   this