massive nun taught chemistry
clad in well-cut modern habit –
knee-length, short sleeves, yards
of seams and darts – evilly inspired
by expanse of off-white monotone,
I see it as a canvas –
for what marks??? – probably still
resentful for her saying only
boys excelled at chemistry,
even though I had the A’s

in the hard luck house
next door the centaur had
a sister my age whose
attraction was her casual wardrobe –
sweatshirt, powder blue, worn inside
out with rough cropped sleeves –
she had the coolest style
I had ever seen, defined
southwest for this midwestern girl
(they came from New Mexico)

short round receptionist at Health
Department, handled “vital records” cheerfully
while negotiating gossip’s swamps with
care – single, dating, and (my intuition)
somewhat off kilter (although I
couldn’t pinpoint how) – occasionally
wore a towering curly wig, an
imposing and Victorian confection –
made a custom birth certificate
for me on paper blue-for-boy

sharp guy slick hair big
ring shined shoes tanned skin
pricey suits short stature bulging
neck NewYawk attitude combative
stance smoker’s voice abrasive style –
I always thought it was probably
a disadvantage for him to
be named after a saint
so obviously and that’s the
main reason I remember him

utmost appreciation for this
architect of words – she uses them
to make small polished perfect
spaces (nautilus, the hidden cottage,
white room) – each more liveable
than her maybe messy life
that’s filled with need – clients,
files, dogs, and a curmudgeon!
what’s ideal, what’s real, both
set to music in Missouri

naked sadhus happily apply
their coats of ash, but the
grihasthya has to make his
cloak of hopelessness: sacrificing
for the priceless family, prisoners,
poets, politicians who offer their
mistakes like bait, take it! or –
hesitate for food and drink
while socializing on the brink
of next week’s fresh abyss

last night your hot winds
raked my body into dunes
the tide of your mouth
assaulted me the salt of
your sweat exalted me you
filled me like a sail

skidding ‘cross the surface of
this scalding sea while dragon
pours rainstars moonfog alert for
northernlights so “bring it on”