First Kiss Between her harbourside and mine the night set soft soon after dinner time; close straddling both our bikes we kissed, cold metal earthing our unbridled bliss. Two new tongues pedalled hard to know love’s tastes, my dizzy head ate velodromes, my chest gear-shifted fast, her rich gifts surged against the contours of my lips. Arch tensed, steel floating freshly laid, two pylons anchoring the bridge we’d made, our bikes held firm, teeth gently touched, still wheels rolled harbour deep and I was lost. Stephen Goldrick