Unfettered

A kiss on the hand.
I could not think
what else to do.
I wouldn't.
Though too young for it.
She deserved it.
In a time against it,
"quaint" beyond the word,

Still, I did it.

Dark eyes and hair,
Beauty, for me,
more, much more,
than I ever dare
imagine to be mine,

Yet I released her hand,
and followed her home,
her home away from home.
Lonely she was.
As lonely as beautiful,
profoundly so.

We walked down a path,
unfettered, not long,
too long for two souls,
too thirsty, not whole,
hoping to find
solace in kind,
yet finding none.

We both felt shunned,
hurt by the others,
own cold shudders,

wanting and waiting,
love's hope fading.

Yet from our bond,
came love from beyond,
and who would have thought,
a new life created,
more beautiful than

the girl I kissed,
on the hand.