The day I fell in love with you.

We were children
when I fell in love with you.
Remember the sky
was deep blue.
I was black and blue
Stepfathers are not always kind.
You saw me sitting on the dock
My feet hanging into the cool water
The dragonflies
skimmed the water.
They were also blue.
I can feel your slim arm
Fold over my shoulder
And you're too blonde hair
fell like my teardrops
onto my back.
I fought back the tears
That your small act of kindness.
Dragged from my young eyes.
I ached to turn and kiss you.
To smell the freshness of
the summer wind in your hair.
But the courage had been
beaten from me.
By him who stole
the joy of my childhood.
Replacing it with
pain and violence.
So I sat quietly
I am sorry I did not
Shout my love that filled
my young heart
so loud it would have carried
Along the surface of the lake.
all the way to the sea.
I wrote love poems to you
But never sent them.
And I let you move away
without saying goodbye.
All My life through the years
I have searched for the little
fruit of sweetness and warmth
You gave to me that day.
The one we bit into
until the juices
drained down our shirts.
I will find it again.
As I will find you.
For I am now healed
And my love for you
Will be loud and clear
As I shout it
from the rooftops

Authors note

let childhood glow

and 

violence go

Jude