‘If you must’, 
us teachers told,
‘do it appropriately’.
You from Japan.
English language lessons.
Sitting shy at 
back of class.
Gentle Japanese man.
Summer-intensive class,
you bought calm.
Learning English to 
study Violin at
Royal College London.
Moment seeing you 
smile at my 
lucky dragon shirt.
Blue cotton shirt
with three dragons.
Number three is
my lucky number.
I wore shirt
outside of class 
on the pull.
Not sure why
but asked you 
out for drink 
Appropriately, of course. 

Chinatown upstairs boozer
‘Keep it professional’, 
us teachers told.
Sat in sofa,
both our shirts
inappropriately buttoned up,
mine intentionally so. 
Unbuttoned glimpses of
your soft black 
hair on chest.
Not your teacher.
Not my student.
Feeling lucky as 
I bought drinks.
Count to three,
tell you what’s
on my mind. 
Count to three 
Close my eyes.
Kiss your cheek. 
Professionally, of course. 

‘I’ve a girlfriend 
waiting for me
back in Japan’
you said assertively.
Maybe you did. 
I bought it.  
You knew that
I knew there
was no girlfriend.
Appropriately, of course,
you wanted me
in your flat 
In South Kensington. 
Five years later,
you made it.
Hit the big time,
bestselling classical L.P.
I bought it. 
Girlfriend or not, 
on every play, 
you and me
both having fun.
Professionally, of course.