.................................
Window at the Belvedere
.................................

We knew each other in that single glance.
I, standing at the window looking down,
and he perambulating slowly with his girl
along the brick-lined promenade. She sensed
his inattention, and with reason, yes...
because in that one moment he was mine
completely, not a shred belonged to her;
and not a molecule of me belonged to
Edward, making brush-like teething noises
at the sink; oh, how disgustingly mundane.

With sharp intake of breath I pressed my hands
against the window pane and looked at him with
all the lust of youth now fading,
soon to be repressed upon our descent unto dinner
with the Stevensons, the Lyons,
and the Porcupines and Hogs. His eyes
arrested mine and held them for a sliver of
eternity, too soon they were to disengage,
our love affair in shards.

Break broke broken.
Screw screwed screwed.
Hic haec hoc.

Susan?
What.
They said seven in the lobby.
.... .... ... .. .
Susan, why are you looking at me like that?

.................................
S. James
.................................

 
Copyright © S. James
May 1996

...a poem in this room by Simon Lenthen...
...on the wall -- my private wall...
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