Contemporary: One Bad Apple
Surrounded by men
Sitting in the middle
of a matte red leather booth
Thick cigar smoke
burns at her lungs
her cough lingers
in my ears
round and round
like a bug caught
in my right canal
struggling to be free
I excuse myself
and walk across the room.
I offer her my hand.
long black eyelashes blush
Our fingers intertwine
as
I guide her to the dance floor
feeling underneath my left palm
pearl buttons on the small of her back
the music
soft and low
the beat of a cello
bringing couples together
tight and close
hands around waists
reminiscing about their secret rendezvous
once
so long ago
but all I can feel
is the curve of her hip
as it follows my unimpressive box step
in her embrace
my mind reels back to the simplicity of
polka dot dresses lying on green grass
a picnic against the clouds
brown wicker baskets filled with homemade treats
wrapped in ribbons
the wind whipping up a full skirt
crinoline underneath
modest fingers pushing it down
embarrassed cheeks
underneath bright green eyes
The song ends.
The touch
of my wiry lips
on the top of her hand
thanking her for our dance
hoping that she stays with me
to fall in love
instead
She returns to her companions
long legs leaving in fishnet stockings
snickers from her thick painted mouth
looking over her shoulder at my shadow
her black hair a beautiful sin
I stand alone
hunched back
against a pale blue suit
single breasted
narrow lapels
Rotting fruit in a wicker bowl.
