holding hands

when you first
meet someone,
and you kind of
like each
other, you have
a tendency
to hold hands
a lot. but as
time goes on,
this can fade.
you begin to keep
your distance.
it's not that the
affection has
diminished or died,
it's just too
awkward now. feels
funny. you start
thinking about do
I lace the fingers
together, or is
it palm to palm,
do I put my arm
under hers, or
around her waist,
as we stroll
down the boulevard.
and then there
are things in
the way. fire
hydrants and signs,
do you say bread
and butter
when you split
around something,
or try to squeeze
in together
around one side
or the other
without losing
grip of each other's
hands. whew.
it gets complicated.