She danced in front of the window,
snowflakes glowing behind her
under the streetlight. The blue silk blouse
slipped off her arms and floated out of sight.
...
at my kitchen sink, the bathroom upstairs
clogged with family from out of town
spending the night after the wake
...
Strip
She danced in front of the window,
snowflakes glowing behind her
under the streetlight. The blue silk blouse
slipped off her arms and floated out of sight.
Black slacks into a shadow, then
the quick shiver, the beautiful awkward gesture
into nakedness. Her skin startled me--
luminous or pale, depending. We didn't know
each other well, but it was my turn,
so I raised my arms above my head
and tried to shake. We both wanted to know
something about somebody. My clothes
piled beneath me in a clump.
The striptease didn't do much
for either of us, but by then
we were chilled and fell against
each other's skin.
Snow under streetlights landed
layer upon layer.
We fell forward,
then fell apart against the sheets,
cold again, and wet. She whispered
in my ear, and I pulled the blankets
up over us. I knew her name,
so I whispered that.
Strong piece... and a great teaching poem. It demonstrates how one can begin by describing a situation and then how one line ('We both wanted to know\something about somebody.') elevates the piece into a more philosophical\intellectual realm. Then back to description of the 'scene, ' followed by a new description, the snow and streetlights slowing the pace, and the whisper, yes, the whisper. Love this! Shelley A. Leedahl (Edmonton, AB Canada)