What do you sense?

does it taste like
smooth mellow chocolate
sweet, smooth and melting
leaving contentment
or is it sharp lemon tart
or nutty toasted almonds
to savour and linger over

does it taste like
pepper, mustard and vinegar
harsh on throats hurting stomachs
or the cumulative effect of
chilli spice – the cumulative heat
that travels across skin making
perspiration shine and
nerves tingle?
does it sound like
a celestial choir,
Dr Hook at full volume,
a playlist of romantic duets
the profound glory of Pacabel’s Cannon
on guitars supported by an orchestra
or melodic like the dawn chorus

does it sound like
a child learning the recorder
an errant burglar alarm
a chain saw labouring to cut a tree,
making the jaw tense and ears retract?

does it feel like
being wrapped
in a warm fluffy blanket
safe sheltered succoured
or
an icy draft stinging the eyes
adding goosebumps to the skin
when the blanket slips?

what sort of love do you have?

Samantha Beardon