The Imperative.

Plait her hair.

Each hair you touch will tug her scalp
and cause a chain reaction reaching
to her toes. It will be longer than you think,
and softer. The smell will stay on your fingers;
accents of Essences, hibiscus and peach.

She wants to look like a sister
from Pride & Prejudice – make it happen
but only by the third arrangement. Fasten
and unfasten until then. Three styles for love,
three for care. Three for the touch of another.