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holding hands (expanded, extreme sestina variation)

Janet Kuypers
3/17/14
based on “holding my hand”, written 04/20/98

when we’re walking down the street in stride
and our feet pump out the same rhythm
and our shoulders are almost touching
and our hands seem to brush up agains
each other for one brief moment

in that one brief moment he reaches over
and takes my hand, he slides his fingers
around my hand and I feel him move
along my palm to my fingers

when he moves along my palm and my fingers
no one knows what it feels like then
when his fingers curl and hold me tight
well, it feels like... pop rocks

you know when it feels just like pop rocks
you know when it feels like that candy is sliding
down your throat after you let it explode
when it’s still on your tongue and it’s tingling

when it’s still on your tongue and it’s tingling
no one else is eating these pop rocks
and no one knows that tingling feeling
and this is my little secret

and I love keeping this little secret
when I feel this feeling like never before
and it makes me want to laugh and cry
because when I look around the room
I know no one else is eating those pop rocks
and no one knows the feeling when he’s holding my hand

no one knows the feeling when he’s holding my hand
it’s like candy and cupids and hearts and sunshine
and all those generic symbols of love
that never explain it just right

those words never explain that feeling just right,
it’s catching your breath, falling from an airplane
it’s climbing a mountain, it’s standing on a glacier,
it’s following dolphins, it’s swimming with sharks
it’s turning your head and seeing those fingers
interlocked with yours as you’re walking in stride

because when those fingers are interlocked
you want to hold on for your life
you now have something you’ve never felt
all
      just by holding his hand

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