The Surrender

It was a good kiss---

a really good kiss---

the kind they wrote about in Motown songs

It changed my life

the scale of my expectation

ruining forthcoming suitors

such a young age to be certain of perfection

stupefied, in fact

and I was silly

and unfortunate in my inability to contain the smile

But I knew then

like I know now

that the kiss and the crow's feet---

and the hand behind his walk

well---

they were going to be the end of me.