forging a memento

with a hand outstretched
he approached
the warmth

more intense
as he moved nearer

watching
fully mesmerized

closer closer
from warm
to sear

the dance
drew him
as a compulsion

he could not withdraw

the finger
so sensitive
extended

one touch

so

a broken spell

it was only once
but so impassioned
the burn
some salutary news

but the fever
of the dance
just once

just once

a memento
to re-touch
re-call
through all his life

---

© Frank Prem, 2017

May 2017 Poem #25: of the unknown