A Long Kiss Goodnight
A kiss can mean many things: hello, goodbye, good night, affection, passion, respect. But, let’s face it, when you think of the art of kissing, you don’t think of being kissed by Aunt Millie or kissing the hand of a dignitary! What you think of is that first breath of your lover, touch of their lips to yours, and how their fingertips might guide, tilt, and caress that delicate place beneath your ear, from which all passionate kisses find their strength.
Remember as a teenager, those moments with your girl/boyfriend spent sitting on the couch, in the park, in the car—just kissing? For a long time, that may have been as far as it went, till you worked up the nerve to move to rouse deeper familiarity within each other. Remember the butterflies, the sheer joy in just finding each other’s lips for the brush of intimacy? The pace could be slow and delicate, or more feverish and intense—but there was a passion driving the dance between your lips.
Think of the boundless artistic reverence paid to the kiss. The art has been written by poets like Neruda, storytellers like Nin and Miller, and painted by countless artists. Some artists in my own life have unpublished volumes to say on the subject—but collectively we decided that would be in poor taste to “kiss and tell.” Pity—it would have made an stimulating read!
Pablo Neruda spent years and countless sonnets describing his passion for his Matilde. None are perhaps as poignant as Sonnet XCIII, a kiss that would mark a lifetime of love.
When was the last time you spent 10 minutes (or more!), kissing on the couch with your partner? When was the last time that kissing was as far as it went and you kissed just for the hell of it—just to share a moment with your spouse that was focused on each other, and speaking of your love for them.
Exercise: Kissing doesn’t have to be a side dish—so dish it out! Kiss the one you love. Remember the passion that came from first knowing them. Reconnect in the most spiritual and primal way—with a kiss that speaks to their body and their heart.
Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XCIII, kissing, kiss, relationships, sexual, intimacy, passion
October 29th, 2006 at 3:22 am
Great post! Before my first kiss, I used to wonder what in the world the appeal was. Now I know.
I think kissing is too often looked over as a bonding thing.
October 29th, 2006 at 3:47 am
[...] http://www.longrelationships.com/2006/10/28/a-long-kiss-goodnight/ [...]
October 29th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Oh boy…now I can’t wait for my next date… I miss the comfort of a long-term relationship, but I sure enjoy the thrills that come with the beginning of love affairs.
October 30th, 2006 at 12:36 am
Kissing can be anything, I think—even just something to do to pass the time until you get a work visa!
haha Thanks for commenting–perhaps I’ll explore more telling chapters on this in the future!