The first time I kissed you,
I knew you had been a shepherdess
in some ancient and faraway land.
It was the taste of salt, that made me realize.
Familiar, but not placed—at least not at first.
On the second kiss, I recognized the salinity
of The Dead Sea. And then,
I remembered –
meeting you at the well.
How thrilled I was when you quietly
and gently offered water to my camels.
I remembered the clack of the brightly
colored beads on your wrist.
I summoned my courage and
Brushed a lock of hair from your face.
I offered you a bangle I had gotten on
my last trip through Egypt.
It was the best thing I had to offer and
I hoped it would be enough.
My heart was buzzing with
the sweet aftertaste of the honey
you so graciously collected and sent
with me. So that no matter how far I traveled,
you were always with me. Until I realized
that I would never be home, until I came
back to you.
