[Susan McLean]

I like the nuance and the contrasts between the two characters in the two parts of the poem. Her caution in part 1 shades into anxiety in part 2, while his adventurous risk-taking in part 1 turns into confident reassurance in part 2. As in most relationships, the two roles are counterweights, correcting the tendencies of either to go too far. In part 2, "somber" and "solemn" sound a bit too similar. Maybe something like "sleepy mumble" or "hazy mumble"?

Susan