When she tasted the unbreathed air
away from girlhood's shallow stream
then it was she pinned up her hair
laced in her waist and saw meaning
in catching attention with breast
held high and eyes full of secrets.
But the boy covered his face, webs
of birds' nests cocooned his dreaming,
for climbing trees came first with him
yet as she strolled, branding his mind,
perfuming trails with siren-schemes
lone lake-bathing became tasteless
as surges drowned his stranded grief.
Remembering her scarlet mouth
hooked like a fish his writhing lips
dried while first love took its bounty.
