Invisible Kisses

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INVISIBLE KISSES
written by Lemn Sissay

If there was ever one
Whom when you were sleeping
Would wipe your tears
When in dreams you were weeping;
Who would offer you time
When others demand;
Whose love lay more infinite
Than grains of sand.

If there was ever one
To whom you could cry;
Who would gather each tear
And blow it dry;
Who would offer help
On the mountains of time;
Who would stop to let each sunset
Soothe the jaded mind.

If there was ever one
To whom when you run
Will push back the clouds
So you are bathed in sun;
Who would open arms
If you would fall;
Who would show you everything
If you lost it all.

If there was ever one
Who when you achieve
Was there before the dream
And even then believed;
Who would clear the air
When it’s full of loss;
Who would count love
Before the cost.

If there was ever one
Who when you are cold
Will summon warm air
For your hands to hold;
Who would make peace
In pouring pain,
Make laughter fall
In falling rain.

If there was ever one
Who can offer you this and more;
Who in keyless rooms
Can open doors;
Who in open doors
Can see open fields
And in open fields
See harvests yield.

Then see only my face
In reflection of these tides
Through the clear water
Beyond the river side.
All I can send is love
In all that this is
A poem and a necklace
Of invisible kisses.


83 thoughts on “Invisible Kisses”

  1. Lemn , you are love . That’s how I see you in my mind when I think of love and before I even finished reading your poem , I knew how it was going to end . Love is everywhere and thanks for grabbing some of it from the air and sharing it with us . I am amazed at how you are within yourself ,being able to feel and touch every bit of what life offers …. bless you dear

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  2. I love the poem during our reading group yesterday the facilitator mention your name and I went on line and got your poem and I am making a valentine card for my husband and using this poem.

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    • I am Ethiopian. Your beautiful poem describes exactly the love my mother gave. Left home at 13 and living in EU and was under government care. My life is also documented but my mothers love and care was strong enough even the memory of it kept me on my feet…up until today. Her name is Meaza – the smell of spring flowers – her motherly love fills her name with meaning to this day.
      When I hear your name thought that would be the name i would give my child if if i was deprived of my right to keep my child and give him the love only a mother can give , like your mum was. May you live to see a world free of pain!

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  4. Dear Lemn
    thank you so much. I was a tearful passenger in a car on sunday when i heard you on the radio speaking beautifully and choosing songs. You said dont hug your bruises. Stay in the present. Dont look down theres too far to fall. youre so right.This is the first poem of yours I have ever read and it made me feel weepy in a good way. Thank you for all your love and your deep understanding of what it means to find your way through the shards of the past and into a brighter smoother reality. You’ve really helped so much and I want to thank you and send you a big hug. And I want to go and knit a novel now x

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  6. Dear Lemm,

    I love your poem invisible kisses. My friend is reading it for her daughter on her wedding day. I would like to buy the book as a wedding present and wonder which book it is in. Then the next step would be to get you to sign it when I get to see you perform on March 12 in Morecambe. Hope that might work. Many thanks

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  8. My daughter read this at her cousin’s wedding. I had never heard it though I have heard of you and admire and respect yu greatly. It is a beautiful love poem. It is so even. It is each to the other. It is about giving and being there and letting each of you be the best you can be. Its about hope . Its what love is at its best and I hope that at some time we all get to feel it and to be it.

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  10. I have often identified myself as number 18, as my father parented 19 children. He died when I was an infant leaving my mum to rear a lot of children. I remember our being desperately poor and my mum doing what she could do to keep us going. Looking back now, I am 73, I feel pain for a mom that literally sacrificed to keep us together. I wish she were here so I could read her your poem. She was my necklace of invisible kisses. Thank you .

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  14. I am planning to read this poem at my mother’s funeral on Monday. It says everything I could possibly want to say about her but never could find such beauty in words to express my feelings. Thank you Lemn. Thank you.

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  16. Can anybody tell me about this poem such as:
    1 what is the topic of this poem
    2, what is the main idea of this poem
    3,who is the intended audience ?
    4, what is the authors pourpose? Provide evidence
    5 what is the tone of this poem? Provide evidence
    6, how does the title relate to the topic of this poem?
    7, provide tow example of figurative language and explain what iit means.
    Thanks!!! Lemn sissay

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  17. “Invisible kisses”
    What a topical title​? I wish the world could be ruled by these feelings. But at last, we cherish the hypocrisy that we see all around us by our so called “civilities” of our modern world.
    Just discovered Lemn and I admire his courage to stand up to all the CORRECTNESS of establishments as opposed to the need to understand the individual being!

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  18. Hello, Lemn
    First of I’d love to let you know, As an Ethiopian I’m proud that I was created in a time where I’m blessed by your work and presence I am a big fan, your poetry is inspiring and most of all touching, I am an aspiring writer and it would mean a lot to get a few tips from you, sincerely
    Kb

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  19. Our son read your poem at his friend’s wedding last Saturday, but the sound system in the refurbished Monastery sent the sound up into the roof & we couldn’t hear the poem properly. I have just found it online & what a beautiful poem it is for a wedding. Love it, & we can see now why they chose it. XX

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  20. I can be a right old soppy get since I’ve become a Dad. Its all good.
    The Start podcast is where I started this weeks emotional journey.
    https://www.theguardian.com/books/audio/2018/mar/01/lemn-sissay-on-the-radical-poem-born-of-heartbreak-the-start-podcast
    Which led me to this poem. And then back to your Desert Island Discs. Its been a roller-coaster ride!
    Hope you don’t mind me asking, as I’ve been wondering: Why does laughter fall, and not rise against the falling rain?
    Thanks for getting to the heart of it, and being true

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    • “Laughter falls” cause I like it that way. Good question though. I think of laughter falling as a good thing. Like a tumble of laughter. I guess.

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      • Laughter falls from a parent to a child if you think about the height difference! That bit makes me think about me and my son who is 12. Poor love often has my laughter falling on him!

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  21. I just heard your story on The Moth and I’m looking forward to reading your poetry. I hope you will read your poetry in Philadelphia someday! Thank you for giving us your poetry and truth.

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  23. I heard you recite this today on Aus radio (a repeat from when you were at Bendigo writers fest).
    Stunning poetry and so eloquent about how families and your life.

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  25. Lemn this poem brought tears to me it’s about God and intimacy. You are indeed outrageously talented. A bright light unto the world. I am very grateful for your poems to have found me! Stay Blessed. Rose.

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  26. I heard your life story and this poem on Radio 2 whilst driving this morning, and it made me cry. It made me feel glad to have a family whom I love and who love me and made me feel amazed that even with such a sad start in life you were able to put the very essence of what love is into such beautiful words. Thank you for this poem, I will always remember your strength and story.

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  28. Driving to swim in the sea I heard you on Radio 2 yesterday. Your story made me hold my breath and wipe away some tears. Then you read Invisible Kisses … I’m going to read it at my sons wedding in two weeks at a venue over looking the sea in Cornwall. It’s so beautiful- the poem! I’m also off to buy your books.
    Just wonderful Lem. Thank you

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  29. Lemn your story on Radio 2 & this poem stopped me in my tracks. I was rooted to the spot, just listening with tears in my eyes. As I missed the title, I scribbled down ‘if there was ever one’ so I could find it. On reading it now I could hear your voice in the rhythm of the words. Thank you for inspiring, for creating and sharing such a beautiful love

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  30. Dear Lemn,

    I am trying to read through the lines of your poem “Invisible kisses”. Since the story of my life has been parallel to yours, but going backwards, I fear I am interpreting your words through my personal perspective, which might not be exactly the same as yours. When You were born, I was a child of state. When you were abandoned, I was adopted. When you were looking for your family, I was found by the one I was born in. But we share feelings and thoughts and in your words I find myself. Is your poem the victory of self awareness on loneliness or are you still longing for someone to love you? Is the invisible kisser the projection of yourself or a ghost from the past? I hope you didn’t mind reading my thoughts and I hope you can unveil the misteries of your words to me. Meanwhile, thanks for having shared your colourful soul.

    Maria Chiara

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  31. Dear Lemn,

    I am trying to read through the lines of your poem “Invisible kisses”. Since the story of my life has been parallel to yours, but going backwards, I fear I am interpreting your words through my personal perspective, which might not be exactly the same as yours. When You were born, I was a child of state. When you were abandoned, I was adopted. When you were looking for your family, I was found by the one I was born in. But we share feelings and thoughts and in your words I find myself. Is your poem the victory of self awareness on loneliness or are you still longing for someone to love you? Is the invisible kisser the projection of yourself or a ghost from the past? I hope you didn’t mind reading my thoughts and I hope you can unveil the misteries of your words to me. Meanwhile, thanks for having shared your colourful soul.

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      • You are completely right. What we feel and we think changes if we change. Probably if I decide to publish my story I’ll mention you ans I’ll let my audience know your book “My name’s why” and your poems. I love them.

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  32. You are completely right. What we feel and we think changes if we change. Probably if I decide to publish my story I’ll mention you ans I’ll let my audience know your book “My name’s why” and your poems. I love them.

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  33. Dear Lemn,
    I have heard you tell the story of how this poem came about and you comically wondered if all the couples getting married would still want to use it knowing its roots in a broken relationship. However I just wanted to say that from the first time I listened to it I heard a homage or a yearning for a mother or a precious care giver who would love you above all things. And for that reason I am putting a copy in the Birth Card congratulating my step daughter on the birth of her first child. I thought it most appropriate. If there is a book with the poem in it, I would buy a copy. I’m in Toronto so your book “My Name is Why” is not available until February. I will be the first in line at the book shop when it becomes available.
    Thank you for lighting up the world with your presence.
    Carolyn

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  34. Loved the poem. Beautifully optimistic and when you get to the end… You discover yourself!? And possibly God as well. In some way…..
    Beautiful.
    (only just come across it).

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  36. Dear Lemn, I have translated your poem Invisible Kisses into Italian, I’ve read your book My names is Why and I tried to learn as much as possible about your story. I’m an adopted child too and I’m a teacher. I would like to introduce you and your poems to my colleagues and I’d like to write an essay about your story and your works that could be published in an Italian magazine on line ” Il piede e l’orma”. Can you tell me if you agree with this idea and let me talk and write about you? If you want I could send you my essay about you so you can read it.

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  37. Beautifully written the words are placed in their correct place’s you created the picture in my mind Thank you

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  38. U r Lemn, why?
    u R Sissay, for bliss
    I watched you today
    talking On Al Jajira n
    Read your invisible kiss.
    Your words sound not only of Africa
    Like the Saint
    One from India called Kabira…

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  40. I am honoured to be reading your poem at my best friends wedding on Saturday. I have played over and over again how you say it but know I just won’t do it justice.

    I have also decided to read it at my Dads celebration of life service which we have been waiting over a year to hold. Your words in that poem will mean so much as I read them for my friends and also my dad.

    It says it all. Thank you

    Jayne

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  41. Hi. I was able to speak to you about Invisible Kisses during a book signing for “My Name is Why” at Chester Storyhouse. You said I could “go for it” should I want to weave your words into a ceremony as I am a Superintendent Registrar.

    4th September 2021 will be the Golden Wedding anniversary of my sister Maureen and her husband John. As a surprise for them, family and friends have been asked to produce video messages that they will be able to keep. So your beautiful poem will be my contribution as, on reflection, I think it is just as fitting at their stage of married life as it can be for any couple who are about to embark on their journey together.

    As with Jayne above, I hope I will do your words justice. I have been practising, not least because I find your words very emotional and I really don’t want to be a blubbering wreck in the video!

    Two years after our brief chat, I have the perfect opportunity to use your words, truly a poem for all seasons.

    Thank you

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  42. First heard of you, as I dare say did many others, last week during the broadcast of your own edition of BBC4’s ‘Winter Walks’ (really fabulous series). As a writer, was instantly addicted to the lines you spoke (“you don’t ‘conquer’ a mountain if you climb it; you conquer yourself”).
    Now I’m here. No acident.
    Converted!
    Wishing you well Lemn.

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  44. Oh This Poem!

    I am lying in my bed beside the Mancunian Way in Hulme. My partner and I love to read this poem to one another to end the day. We met and connected through your poetry.

    We’ve just finished reading My Name Is Why. Such a challenging read, but such and important story to share. We were grateful to find this poem at the end of the book.

    Thank you for all your poems and writing. Thank you for your representation of Manchester. But a special thank you for this poem and the special role in plays in our love.

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  46. I watched you on a Christmas Special with Sally Phillips and felt moved by two amazing people. Following this I found Invisible Kisses which speaks to the reader of a depth of love experienced by life not being all “roses around the door”. I have chosen this strong, beautiful poem to read at my son’s wedding later this month. I hope I do it justice. Thank you Lemn

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  47. Hi Lemn, we are intending to have invisible kisses read at our wedding later this year as it is such a beautiful poem. I do have a question about the mention of a necklace at the end though, as it seems slightly out of place. I fear I am thinking materialistically about this, but struggling to understand the meaning. I fear I am missing the point of the poem, but wanted to ask anyway! Thank you

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