To lust before my time

(first published in Nightshade Lit Mag)

To speak of love was forbidden

the carnal was caged in matrimony

I was unwilling to exchange my freedom for it.

Then one day we crossed a street

and you offered to hold my hand

dodge traffic to reach the other side

why did you hold on?

Never spoke of it again

but I carry the moment

our skin touched

and the sky exploded in color.