have you ever loved someone

neither the respect for your parents
nor the affection for your siblings
neither the innocence of toddlers
nor the experience of the gray hairs

but for whom the heart skips a beat
and sometimes runs like a gazelle
something that increases the heat
the love that yearns for a belle

is it the playful girl next door
or the girl who borrowed my books
maybe the smiling lass on the tour
searching for one with the looks

searched in the twinkling eyes
listened to the silent whispers
pondered the enticing smiles
looked for a sign in the sighs

they say to have not loved someone
is worse than to have loved and lost
but how wretched it is to be undone
having loved and not known at least.

...dedicated to my long lost love and the memory of that kiss
which she gave when I distributed chocolates in my class on my 4th birthday