Swerve A hopeful return red lips and a whisper a light touch to the side of my face You, a tight bodied wonder with cascading hair Entered our world and turned it like a cake, upside down You had every man's attention you and your coterie of girls but you were the cherry at the center a musical gift, a violent violinist a match made in Hoboken strike it and it burns Playing music at a wedding I did not want to be a part of (who would miss the groom?) my doubts as I looked at you a wonder in a smart dress your talent and your heart a figment a fracture broke me apart I never thought I'd see you again a sweetheart proposal an anticipation, a promise unfulfilled intimidated by your artistry I should have heeded the warning signs: Merge ahead! Denial ahead! Take the wheel and swerve! But I went ahead and sometimes I look back on those next five years and feel like my life was on hold our separation freed me and like a crisis at midpoint I rediscovered my youth, my craziness, my drunkiness when our lips touched Asking you up, you refuse but as I left you spun me around and planted one, wet, right where it counts and seven years later it still burns no wonder lipstick's the color of flames.