SHE kissed me when she said good-bye— A child's kiss, neither bold nor shy. We had met but a few short summer hours; Talked of the sun, the wind, the flowers, Sports and people; had rambled through A casual catchy song or two, And walked with arms linked to the car By the light of a single misty star. (It was war-time, you see, and the streets were dark Lest the ravishing Hun should find a mark.) And so we turned to say good-bye; But somehow or other, I don't know why, —Perhaps 't was the feel of the khaki coat (She'd a brother in Flanders then) that smote Her heart to a sudden tenderness Which issued in that swift caress— Somehow, to her, at any rate A mere hand-clasp seemed inadequate; And so she lifted her dewy face And kissed me—but without a trace Of passion,—and we said good-bye ... A child's kiss, ... neither bold nor shy. My friend, I like you—it seemed to say— Here's to our meeting again some day! Some happier day ... Good-bye. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPRINGTIME by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SURFACES AND MASKS; 12 by CLARENCE MAJOR DOMESDAY BOOK: GREGORY WENNER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 10 by EZRA POUND TOWERS OF SIMON RODIA; FOR HOWARD W. SWENSON 1903-1081 by KAREN SWENSON |