"The Crush"

flustered

her heartbeat kicks as he approaches

         her hands fumble

         scattering spirals and papers

                  to her feet

a text tumbles

         skids to a stop by his sneakered foot

a blush heats her neck

         embarrassment and shyness

                  drop her

                           to her knees

she shovels her mess into a careless pile

"Is this yours?"

his voice teases her to look upward

         meet his mischievous eyes

a gallant knight,

         he kneels before her

                  neatly straightening her papers

his smile broadens

         he skims his fingertips over her hand

                  grasps her by the elbow

                           nudges her to her clumsy feet

she ducks her chin to chest

         mumbles, "Thanks"

                  as he confidently strides away

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!"

         she berates herself

                  for her tongue-tied timidity

surreptitiously, she watches him—

         she longs for his voice to say her name

                  daydreams

                           her first kiss

         mixing his hot and eager experience with her innocence

                  stealing her breath—her heart

he ignores the teasing banter of his friends

         feels honored by her worship

                  encourages her with attention

                           gentled by his kindness

he dismisses his own longing

         for her sweetness

he  understands her purity

         he cherishes

                  her silent longing

he knows

         his fast and furious nature

                  lures, tempts, mesmerizes

                           and so he protects her from herself

Copyright 2013 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman