and after all this
time
to see you
is to feel the same young
stir

a tugging exuberance
a stomachless feeling
air
and light
they turn

trying to outdo each other
a battle of raw wits
trying to out-prove each other
a battle of what-ifs

and me stuck there in the middle of it
and me clutched there in the midst

and after
then
they stay with me
so
bubbly
lingering
for the day

a golden-glowing
cheekbones-crowing
zero-percent
champagne

and I'll drink it up and drink again
come back once more in haste
and despite the fact
I drink and drink
I always miss
the taste