The embrace

One evening I was walking by the ocean. It was a lovely day - warm and calm even out by the water. The sun was making its way home slowly, the surfers were out, children squealed as shaggy wet dogs blundered into sand-castles. I was smiling as I went up a hill, eager to get to the top so I could contemplate the sunset in full.

As I went, I saw a couple locked in embrace on a park-bench. I say "locked in embrace", because that's precisely what it was, fully clothed, entwined. I didn't take pictures, but I did look back as I crested the hill, and they were still there - almost motionless, murmuring to each other. It reminded me of this poem, its an odd little thing but a favorite for sure!:

The Hug (Thom Gunn)

It was your birthday, we had drunk and dined
Half of the night with our old friend
Who'd showed us in the end
To a bed I reached in one drunk stride.
Already I lay snug,
And drowsy with the wine dozed on one side.

I dozed, I slept. My sleep broke on a hug,
Suddenly, from behind,
In which the full lengths of our bodies pressed:
Your instep to my heel,
My shoulder-blades against your chest.
It was not sex, but I could feel
The whole strength of your body set,
Or braced, to mine,
And locking me to you
As if we were still twenty-two
When our grand passion had not yet
Become familial.
My quick sleep had deleted all
Of intervening time and place.
I only knew
The stay of your secure firm dry embrace.