Never





Never kiss her on the back of her neck,
Like this.
Never whisper in her ear that you love the way
Her hair smells just after she washes it.
Never tell her what you'd like for dinner
Or offer to make her favorite dish,
The one you invented just for her.

Never linger near her navel with intent,
Like this.
Never let her tickle you back until you gasp
Out her name, begging to surrender.
Never go out shopping for yourself 
And find her a gift only
Because you were thinking of her.

Never pull her close to you, and closer,
Like this.
Never call her names you made up
Just because you know she'll laugh.
Never think of her when you're alone
Or far from her or with people you don't like 
Just because none of them are her. 

Never move slow then fast then slow,
Like this.
Never offer her the last shrimp or the last
Piece of chocolate, the kind you know she loves.
Never kiss her good-bye when she leaves for work
Or when she comes home again or in the hall
Just because you passed so very near to her.

Never touch her, smell her, feel her, taste her,
Like this.
Never kiss her unexpectedly 
Just when she wanted you to.
Never bite her gently, on the inner 
Side of the back of her thigh just
Because you wanted to please her.

Never write poems about her,
Like this.
Never let her know that you're
Thinking about a future together.
Never tell her what she means
To you unless you want her to know
How very much you love her.