written By
In the park, panties flash
like flags of fugitive nations
Every animal on the merry-go-round
replaces the last and maintains, each time
that it’s always been there, twisting with twisted delight
the afternoon from its stem, heaving it discarded
just footsteps from where it had lived so peaceably
Gently enthralled by thighs and the threat of rain
the promise of tedium and dimpled irregular clouds
Heat mutes light and summer women
don’t know any better, or they do
Either would be wonderful
Not knowing is wonderful too
Twisting on an unseen stem
maybe I was no gentleman
Maybe I never understood women or the sky
But I imposed my fantasies on them
and they their weather on me
Everyone’s been wanton
responsive and irresponsible
And so far it’s worked out
kind of
