Autumn blazed azure and gold,
And a tickling thrill stole over me;
Fingers slid down the curve of my neck,
Then gently squeezed my clavicle,
Playing me for a brilliant fool.
I swayed into his embrace;
Bronze, copper, and iron notes
Skittered down and up my spine,
In senseless musicality.
Yellow squeaked cautionless F sharp,
Red “Don’t Walk” banged my brain to go,
To ignore a car screeching green;
My metronome life—ONE-two-three,
ONE-two-three—fell out of box step.
He whirled me, my head tipping back,
And our tango strayed night into day—
Running down the clocks.
His sweaty hand caught my raised wrist,
And I faced him, fighting for breath,
Dry lips parted, I drew closer,
Lured by a straining violin;
I kicked up dust from heart-pine boards
And wrapped my leg around his thigh,
Blood-rush dips intoxicated,
But his grip slackened, and I crashed,
A sprawling dime-a-dance girl.
He hibernated until
Forsythia stars exploded and
Tight cylinders of hyacinth
Rose brief and creamy, craving light.
He flirtatiously slipped his foot
Just inside the slam of my door,
And his shoes drummed frenetically—
An ancient tamburello shook.
He knelt briefly, galloped three steps,
His right arm feigned steadiness,
But his left foot forward tripped me;
Pawing his left hand, he gamboled
Three steps ahead, turn, sprang, and bit.
The sting of ritual poison
Sent spasmodic waves up my legs
In hypnotic 6/8 rhythm,
A pizzica tarantata—
This foggy duet roiled nowhere,
Until a repeat Middle C,
Neither sharp, nor flat,
Marched me out the door slam,
A steady one-note wonder,
As mop-headed hydrangeas—
Summer seared—pelted the lawn blue.
Categories: Poetry
Catherine Hamrick
Soul deep storyteller, poet, copywriter, and editor with a passion for wordplay, gardens and literature
The imagery in this is stunning. It really paints a picture for me as I read through it.
Thanks so much for reading–and the feedback!
No problem! 🙂 looking forward to reading more
You have never, never written more beautifully. I trust that you will submit it widely, starting at the top.
Very visual! Nice.