FREE VERSE Poem: Watermelon Kiss, by Amelie Peterson

You were:
Natural auburn/Freckles/Old Spice
I was:
Sleep deprivation/Trust issues/Eager

Your barbershop haircut and Rolex watch said “privileged”
Your honorary tattoos for your 11 friends who OD’d
Said something else

I sipped a watermelon margarita
That had plenty of tequila
You kept looking at me like you didn’t want to blink.

First kiss I was floored/
Wanted more
Then I thought about it too much/
Worried I’d never have better

I loved that you kissed me hard/
Like you knew only kisses could hold me together/
Like you wanted me to know you meant it
Effortless was/
Being with you/
Was—
Effortless.

“Hmm,” you said,
With a big, stupid grin.
“Tastes like watermelon.”
I giggled. You said,
“I liked it”

When you drove me home
Your cheeks were hurting from smiling
Being with you was effortless/
I feared I could get used to it
I think you did, too
[Didn’t you?]