The Samurai and the Lady

He parted the silk
and traced her skin with clusters of
pink sakura.  His lips
Followed their trail.  He
pulled flowers from the clusters,
scattering on her skin.
Teasingly he blew
them away.  Here, now there, and
And there.  He smiled and
Pulled her to him.  Soft
as petals against him, he
touched her in wonder.

Strawberry Kisses

Warm May afternoon.

The two of them sat on

The back porch steps each

With a basket of

Strawberries between their feet.

His basket almost

Depleted.  He ate

Quickly, devouring green tops

And fruit in two bites.

Her basket half full.

She ate slowly, savoring

Each bite.  Green tops piled

Beside her in a

Neat pile.  “Save some for the koi.”

Silence.  She glanced at

Him. “Poor koi.”  He laughed.

he set two beside him.  “Happy?”

She smiled and nodded.

Her long braids brushed the

Steps as she reached down for two

Strawberries to place

With his two.  “I am.”

He watched as she slowly

Bit into a berry.

“You look like a child

Wearing her mother’s lipstick –

Red juice on your lips.”

“So do you” was her

Adult rejoinder, “Red lip

Boy.” He licked his lips,

tasting the juice.  He grabbed

a braid to pull her close.  He

kissed her.  She touched his

lips with one of her

Her bitten berries and kissed

Him.  He sighed.  “You have

More than I.”  She finished her

berry.  “More in the

Kitchen, watashi

No koi. We are wealthy with

Berries and kisses.”

He said “Watashi

no koi, berries and love are

A fine afternoon.”

She looked sideways at

Him.  “peach season is next month.”

He smiled.  “peach kisses.”