Two by Lyn Lifshin
                                                          

 
                                         Why Areograms Are Always Blue

 

                                          Because of the distance to you.

                                          Because the wind fades,

                                          dries out the verbs

                                          until the background they’ve 

                                          leaned against blends

                                          with the sky. 

                                          The blue reflects your eyes.

                                          No, that’s a lie, I don’t

                                          remember them, only the

                                          feeling in my hands, some

                                          thing longing, aching the

                                          blue in my veins a fast 

                                          blue burning barriers

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                                                  Not Quite Spring


                                          Baby, you know I get high

                                          on you, come back with me

                                          whispering in her ear.

                                          It was all she could do to say

                                          no, spring leaves budding,

                                          his hand on her breast,

                                          crocus smell and

                                          everything unfolding.

                                          She gasping I want, I

                                          would but instead hurrying

                                          back to the windowless room

                                          where she locks the heavy door.

                                          Lemons are rotting on her pillow,

                                          she studies her nipples,

                                          nyloned crotch in mirror

                                          then hugs her huge body to sleep