Courage

A poem - about the new-found courage sobriety brings

When he kissed me
  That first time
  It didn't matter.
  We were drunk - or, at least, he was - and that's the
same.

When he kissed me
  That other time
  It mattered.
  Sober as I've ever been
  Sober as I've ever kissed anyone
  I thought I forgot how
  But the tongue remembers
  Ancient stories to be whispered between lovers.

When he kissed me
  This last time
  I almost exploded.
  The fear of the unknown
  But that which is known so well
  Or have I ever?
  When was the last time
  I didn't run away from that feeling?
  
My brain screamed
  "Stop! Stop! I don't know how!"
  My mouth knew
  All the knowledge of
  all the love stories
  resting on my teeth.

When he touched me
  It was the first time
  No other experience mattered

I forgot it all
I shook - and - we weren't. Even. There.

None of it was an appropriate response.

The courage it takes
To bare yourself
Of all your liquid strength
And lay in front of her eyes
Wide open
And ready._