Milla #2

Why do I enjoy the taste of her nicotine kisses?
She is cold, motionless eyes and
Dirty yellow hair undone and tossled behind
Her distracted ears and emperess expression.
Hiding a careless, inquisitive mind,
She laughs sober, but heart drunken,
To tease and taunt meaninglessly at my
Played up errors.
Placing two hands suddenly on my chest to
Slide right down and silence me.

Quieting me with her deliborate passion.
Calming me with an angel's curves.
Rising above, around, beneath, within
A tangle of voiceless bodies, we move and breathe
As if our twin souls had never been parted.
We act as if it were always this way,
Not the second time alone.

A day. A night.  It passes quickly
With no goodbyes or second thoughts.
No drama or distinction between
The bodies of two strangers.

Yet with a saintly smile she returns to me.
Dress in motion, eyes pale and stone,
Lips curled and fingers parting to
Laugh again at my impish remarks
And settle the world away with a smirk.

These nights I cannot forget her.
My passionate memories faded by a grin,
Again and again as she let her laughter
Clothe us in innocence.

11/98

Tom's Notes

I've decided to keep the subject of this poem anonymous, althought I don't think it would be difficult for some of my friends to figure it out. This is probably my most sexual piece to date, but the words and images are fitting for the picture I'm trying to convey about an extraordinary, unemotional physical relationship (and woman, for that matter), but one which holds a redeeming and positive aspect for us both. I am taking what would, on the surface, seem like a sinful indulgence and portraying it with the white light of laughter, forgiveness, joy, and friendship. There's also a strong use of the number "2" throughout the poem, which is symbolic on several levels. Not only to show the separation (being two as opposed to being one) but also to show the newness (a mere second time alone) and the purpose (two hands instead of one, no second thoughts; and the difference between a first kiss, which can be irrational, and a second kiss, which is far more intentional).

There is something very right here, in the midst of something which most people would consider wrong. This poem attempts to communicate that contradiction.

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