Of You, Memory Mine

soft and wrinkled,
  smooth and folded skin,
  liver-spotted skin.

of you, memory mine.

white, thick and wavy
  up in a hair net
  fixed the same way
  every day.

quick with a big, wet smooch
  - right on the lips!

"yuck", we grumbled
  while discreetly wiping our mouths
  and even more secretly
  loving the physical affection,
  the connection.

never had i been so truly, honestly embraced
  and had my soul searched through my eyes,
  brought into her bosom,
  so safe
    so warm
      so home
        so deep
          so close.

smells of powder and lotion
  - fully immersed for a moment in those smells
  -  they were her air.

knobby and crooked bones
  of her fingers
  - when we held hands,
  i was afraid i would injure her further,
  but i never did.

"how are you?"
  "how are your grades?"
  me?
  she really wants to know about me!

that's what saved me
  - brought me through.
  that genuine, unique, unconditional love
  by her for me
  and my utter amazement,  respect,
  and never-ending love
    for her.