The first time

The first time you don't really
notice
that it's happening. it's slow
insidious, sneaking round
corners and lurking
in shadows.

and the strangeness of it all is
mostly
strange
and suddenly i'm tripping over tongues and losing my place
losing my
mind

and all that once was
crystal to me -
glass like pools, visions of still silent seas
the oceans of your eyes
turn to storms
raging and
angrily tossing me from tranquillity
the space I once mastered is
under new management

and it only took three seconds.
no blinking-
slow smiles working like warm waves
welcome,
crashing into my peace.

the first time you just don't see it coming.
this thing, they call
'love'.