The Stranger
When the sun bloomed
And the bougainvillea blossomed
And her cheeks unfurled
Into a long smile
At sunset,
I had her in my arms;
I knew her.
When the whales sprayed silhouettes,
And the fishermen made their bets;
Porpoise stitched the sea
Into a sunset dress
For her to wear at the dance
That night after we argued
About strangers.
(And please don’t talk to them
And don’t drink
And don’t dally about
And don’t be someone else
I don’t know.)
Don’t be a stranger
When you come home
when the sun rises,
Blooming.
Copyright © Lee Etheridge | Year Posted 2025
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