Kiss me twice

Poem: Kiss me twice

Who said to kiss me twice?

Was that the right thing to do?

Was that indeed sound advice?

Did you listen and place one on each cheek?

Well, your knees started to tremble

and had gone from ‘strong to very weak’

Somehow you mustered up courage

bringing flowers, chocolate and a bag of chips

You did kiss me sweetly and firmly,

And twice… on the lips!

 

Review:Kiss me twice

When I first read the title of the poem it appeared to me as being a request or potentially a demand by the poet. Oooh I’m so quick to judge here aren’t I?  Perhaps it is a request? but let me see where this will be going. It has certainly caught my attention. The poet then poses questions about the two kisses that they’ve already had. The ‘kisser’ whoever that was, had, by the looks of it undergone a quickfire tutorial on the act of kissing twice. Are they planning to move abroad and are planning to blend in with the locals and their customs? I’m imagining that that is the case. It is ‘the done thing’ in southern Europe. Kissing on both cheeks is what is done if you’re Italian, Spanish or Portuguese. It’s the social etiquette of acknowledgment between friends, family and acquaintances and not at all romantic. I have seen and I have experienced this from a very young age so it’s not at all ‘alien’ to me. It is the ‘way’ to do it in warmer climes. But what about here on colder British shores? Erm no. In the eighties, it was seen as what ‘Foreigners’ did. Fast forward to the here and now. I’m seeing more people hug in the street saying hi and bye with warmth and smiles. Young and old, men, women and children. Any social kissing? Yes, but with just the one on the cheek. It would perhaps be seen as “too European” for some to adopt the behaviour, if unaccustomed with it. I won’t even go there about the ‘Glaswegian kiss’ It’s a much colder place in Europe but on these “British Shores. I don’t think the kisser in the poem has any plans to move there with its humorous but unfair stereotype.

It all seems to have not exactly gone to plan for the kisser (if they were indeed listening to an online tutorial on how to kiss in social situations)

When put it into practice, the nerves took hold and the knees started to tremble. Sounds like they were frightened but continued with wanting to complete this task. Flippin’ Eck eh poet! It’s not that difficult to offer a person a gentle peck on each cheek now is it? You acknowledge them, they reciprocate. You’re either saying ‘hi’ or ‘bye’ Easy as that right?

But I have a feeling that there is more to it than this.

It sounds like it was an occasion of some kind where flowers and chocolate featured but also a bag of chips? Who in their right mind would bring all three to someone as a gift?

I have a feeling that the kisser already knows the poet. Perhaps they are acquaintances or friends, and the kisser’s plan is to take things a step further with the suggestion of becoming romantically involved?

But why do it in this way oh kisser ? WHY NOT JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION.

Flowers and chocolate suggests love and a bag of chips suggests fun and friendship.

I think that the kisser had it in mind to play a fun yet serious kissing game. I’m guessing that they are young people. Teenagers perhaps?

‘Sweetly’ in the poem sounds just that but ‘firmly’ and ‘twice’ say’s to me that the kisser means it.

Would I be wooed? As a teenager, maybe? but I would have to see the other person in the same light. It could be the beginning of something truly special or the end of a friendship. It could go either way. As a teen, time is always on your side. Mistakes aren’t really mistakes, just opportunities to learn and grow. Isn’t that applicable at any age?

On whatever level, love is love. In my view, conversation reigns supreme.

I’ve enjoyed the unexpected journey that this short poem has taken me on. I have enjoyed the rhyming of ‘cheek’ with ‘weak’ and ‘hips with ‘lips’.

Here’s the question: What did the poet do?

It’s left for the reader to decide and use their imagination and life experiences to determine the ending. What do you think, dear reader?