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You offered me your ear again today;
and so we parted in our normal way,
the kiss which I had aimed straight at your face
landing once more upon its usual place.

Some small encouragement is all I want –
a chance one day to kiss you from the front
and not, just as my hopeful lips draw near,
your switch to profile and a proffered ear.

I’m not expecting sex. Not really, yet. 
But something more full-face would help me get 
the confidence that some day, one fine year,
you’d let me closer than to just one ear.         

I promise one quick kiss would not infect you,
and afterwards I swear I’d still respect you.
But all you’ll ever offer me, I fear,
is one dismissive, though so kissable, left ear. 
--