Fine wine

NOTE TO REVIEWERS AND RATERS: Is it better in present or past tense?


Fine wine PRESENT TENSE

His eyes follow every graceful movement.
Her merriment and bustle energize what lies
behind the lips that seek embrace.
His gaze scans deep.

He sets eyes on her heart,
does not notice, it trembles with his touch.
She looks beneath,
beyond the meal they share,
the wrought iron table, the crystal stemware.
They talk of nothing, noting everything.

Starlight surrounds them,
their incandescence drawing the moths of dreams
to flutter close.

They sip grape juice.
It ferments on their tongues. So close,
so far, a touch would break the moment,
cleave this night in twain.
They drink each other in,
slowly,
savoring the fragrance of fine wine.


Fine wine PAST TENSE

His eyes followed every graceful movement.
Her merriment and bustle energized what lay
behind the lips that sought embrace.
His gaze scanned deep.

Eyes sat upon her heart, he did not notice,
it trembled with his touch.
She looked beneath,
beyond the meal they shared,
the wrought iron table, the crystal stemware.
They talked of nothing, noting everything.

Starlight surrounded them,
their incandescence drawing the moths of dreams
to flutter close.

They sipped grape juice,
letting it ferment on their tongues. So close,
a touch would have torn the moment,
clove that night in twain.
They drank each other in,
slowly,
savoring the fragrance of fine wine.


Kåre Enga

21 januar 2004.
Catalogue number: [160.808]


Note: A fiction spun around an actual story of two friends in Tahlequah. Donna Robbins cherished the original, but poetry must be edited, alas.