End of the beginning

Arriving at the door with

ugly sweater adorned

coat taken and pleasantries made

I move about the party as

the minutes fade

Spirits in hand mostly hors d’oeuvres

some tasty and pleasantly devoured

but one - face frozen as the taste hits

my tongue and then a sound

I turn to see where it fits

A blonde, with the sweetest smile

laughing at my misfortune a while

”I should have said something

but wanted to see your face”

And with my drink, I washed the unpleastness

from its place

I smile, praying nothing between teeth

“I really should have said, something..”

She reached for another, and offered,

“here, this one’s better, instead.”

Taking it from her hand, our fingers

lingered, feeling honored

We begin talking, about subjects

most safe, but then she pushes the

discussion, to things unheard of

I smile at her determination

to see if she can rattle, but she finds,

we fit like a glove

For, I push back in the flow of words

She smiles and exclaims, “Why look, mistletoe!”

Her smile is like the sun and I would be remiss

If I did not adhere to traditions of old

So stepping forward, I bend down

and end our beginning with a kiss.