falling

I remember the first time
I was truly kissed by a
boy in junior high in the
dark at a party my closed
eyes making it easer to feel
my separateness from those
around us and how when
our lips touched and I fell
deeply into his soul I felt
more aware of myself than
I had ever been and it made
me wonder if the stories had
gotten it all wrong if falling
in love was finding yourself
rather than someone else

Cinse Bonino
2023