In Elk City, Oklahoma,
True love just couldn't wait.
And so, he came on over
In the summer of 1968,
Since I was just too young
To take out on a date.

He then asked my mom
If he could please come
And visit once more tonight.
My dad was gone to Viet Nam
So she simply said "alright".

I was only thirteen years old
When I partook of my first kiss
With a boyscout suddenly bold
Taking his chance of hit or miss.
Sixteen's only slightly too old
Three years ahead on the road.

A Johnny Rivers album played
Music floating upon air ungrounded.
Our heads touched and our eyes glazed
Kissing long as our hearts pounded,
Lost in the moment and love-crazed.

Then this wasp flew in unseen,
Landing on the couch as I leaned
Stabbing my back with its sharp sting
Forever ending an ephemeral evening
Mired in a moment of bliss
On that night of my very first kiss.

07/31/2008
Author's Note: a touch of nostalgia and a true story....and later on in life I found out that my first "true love" (and my first kiss) died young and never made it past 21........
Posted on 07/31/2008
Copyright © 2008 Melanie Arnold

Member Comments on this Poem

Posted by Alison McKenzie on 07/31/08 at 08:03 PM
Poignant.
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Posted by Kristi Paik on 08/02/08 at 12:43 PM
from the title i fell in love with this piece. great write, thanks for sharing such a wonderful moment and im sorry for the untimely death of your first kiss :(
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Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 08/19/08 at 09:40 AM
Perhaps it just wasn't meant to be; that is weird...a wasp stinging you at that special moment...maybe a harbinger of what was to come...the passing of your first love.
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Posted by Richard Fish on 09/08/08 at 05:48 PM
I also love the title of this one. The poem delivers too. I like poetry when it's based on real events, cos you get this level of detail and intimacy that you don't really see otherwise - the album playing, the mention of Vietnam - it all adds up.
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Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 12/11/08 at 04:47 AM
bite or no bite, I must say, I am smitten with this ode. and what better singer to have in the background, prelude to of a first kiss than Johnny Rivers? I don't know what the song was, Melanie, but I hope it was my favorite ---- Poor Side Of Town.
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07/31/2008

Author's Note: I am just reposting and archiving older stuff.

Posted on 08/31/2009
Copyright © 2025 Clara Mae Gregory