"The Flood Contained Electric"
walls of glass
sheathe this heart
a conservatory
for the lacking
of menagerie
the walls aren’t
bricked up
comme dans une
la orangerie
clearly seen
straight through
X-ray vision
dancing dervish
until the clouds
roll in and the
pea soup fog
mists over the view
jade is the colour
caught courting within
the flinting prisms
seen in the eyes
of jaded others
the storm's coming
warns Elektra
standing outside
the shattering
evaluation
rain like hands
clapping
hail like pebbles
thrown by the good
heavens above
turn Pollock
tomatoes crushed
hard thrown
the bleed painted
as water colour fades
pink and naked
cantoring in the mind
then, racing west
unbridled like
a white wedding
splayed onto the page
the bride stripped bare
surrenders
bricked in
l'orangerie
the flood
contained,
Elektra
turns away
(LadyLabyrinth / 2023)
canter
cantor
Used to live in
Strasbourg:
9, Quai de Paris.
The piers in that
city
Were on canals.
Window flower boxes
On Alsatian cafes,
Choucroute garnie
entres
With onion tartes.
Venders sell hot
chestnuts
In Orangerie park.
I'd sight-see after
dark
La Petite France.
Notes: Choucroute
garnie is sauerkraut
slow cooked with
Riesling white wine,
potatoes, ham,
sausages, and
cloves. Tarte a
l’oignon is also an
Alsatian specialty.
La Petite France is
the canal district
that had many
tanneries which now
are tourist shops
and high-end
restaurants
Once I was there
Snatching glimpses
Through the minstrel gallery
Watching dancers
Cavort across the floor
Once, for just a second
I caught the falling petal
As, tucking nightdress up
To bunch over knees
I ran, barefoot to hide
In the lushness of the orangerie.
There amongst the ferns
And the sweet scented yet
Sticky lemon plant
I watched you kiss, and
Stroke her hair
Caught the fragrance of
Two lovers lost in bliss.
It was only once
But you never knew I saw
I saw you with my mothers’ eyes
Watched you look
And as you gazed
I held my breath
Until my heart just thumped and thumped
Pounding in waves like
The sea upon the shore
Felt the rush of water
Singing in my ears
Just once, and it was over
And chances died like dreams.
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