The Waters of Summer

they met at the pool
as their children played together
in the blinding Summer heat
taken by her smile
by her not-quite-svelte but shapely figure
he was charming
he listened well

over the Summer
they always chose adjacent tables
family chat
kids' lives
shared interests

subtle innuendo here
possible longing glance there
would you like a coke? we brought extra
would you like some sunscreen on your back?

blinding luminence, wet bathingsuits
chlorine and cocoa butter
splashing and children's laughter
mutual fantasy, mutually secret

one August night
awkward greeting
fumbled first kiss
pool glinting silver under the moon
seeing only now
that they didn't know each other at all
desire and desperation

later they sat on the still-warm concrete
backs against the poolhouse
middle-aged naked in the moonlight
each with the fresh taste of the other
the taste of life and freedom
silenced by a moment, by lives of moments
for a while
they weren't subservient to responsibility
their value was inherent
not from what they could do
he was strong and virile
she was irresistibly desirable
for a while
they were young

a long glowing cloud slowly covered the moon
fumbled last kiss
shared look that meant everything and nothing
Summer's over