deepundergroundpoetry.com
never get close
from a distance, she looked good.
a silhouette without a strict outline, flaring gently
in the proper places: the full, ripened orbs adorning
her sublime anatomy; her hips, where they reigned
imperiously on the bar stool. a very poetic flaring, like
a blue balloon slowly inflated, or rippling concentric
circles in a moon dappled pool when a raindrop hits.
her hair, rich with the amber shade of rare liquor aged
in oak. exiguous sparkles, like tiny gems cut from
purloined stars, scattered in her waves by intrusive
ceiling lights & performing their own ethereal ballet.
her face remained hidden in shadow, from which
silvery smoke rings emerged at intervals, perpetrated
by her elegantly thin cigarette. & her legs, sleek & slimly
muscled, that have cantered across tropical beaches,
perhaps. & danced. let them dance upon my dreams.
as the bar was not crowded, I approached her easily, to
prove my assessment.
my calling card was quick & laced with noir that I relied
on: I hated drinking alone, & hoped the fire in her eyes
would make the night a little less black.
she looked at me with a worn gaze that held no fire, only
suspicion & fading glamour; glamour that was fostered
these days by an uptown Merle Norman. her mask was
less than demure in the accusing light.
the mistrust that draped her like dubious protection was in
stark contrast to the loneliness that led her to pick-up joints
like this. I concluded that her stunning legs were shaped by
years of running…..from one broken heart after another.
she would sit here sipping her cocktail & french kissing her
slim cigarette, imagining that one night her prince would
come. but there would be no prince in this den of diluted
booze & cheap sex, even in the kindest fairy tale.
I was no hero, I could not save her, & so I made my departure.
there were other bars, & more desirable targets.
at the exit, I glanced back, almost in sorrow.
she looked better from a distance…
(Art by Vladimir Volegov)
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