Like that

by


She said it was like colour swallowed up by bruised chalk

clouds at night, the bite of teeth

 

She said it was like silk, the electricity of cat fur

the tip of a finger, the flat of a hand, touch

of a cheek

 

Like puppies gobbling their food

tails wagging, circling the bowl

— that hovercraft of desire

— that overdose of love

 

Like being danced upon, melted,

whirled about

ignited

 

Like basking in fierce sun on an island

and surrounded by traffic and speed

at the same time

 

You — she said — it was you

Setting your cap, balancing your cane, laughing

 

You being that miracle, the unexpected

the visitor from space, the burnt fingernail

that rips

a path

down the blackboard heart

 

Empties a room

—just like that!

Sets the candles ablaze

Smashes all the windows

                        (yes)

And every step, every dance

each touch

is a waltz

 

 

 

this poem originally appeared in Poetry D’Amour 2020 anthology, published by WA Poetry Inc.

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