Discussion: Poetry: Characters and Styles

lady in red orange butterflies & aqua sequins

ensconsed tween slight bosoms silk roses dartin from behind her ears

the passion flower of southwest los angeles meandered down hoover street past dark shuttered houses where

women from louisiana shelled peas round 3:00 & sent their sons

whistlin to the store for fatback & black-eyed peas she glittered in heat & seemed to be lookin for rides

when she waznt & absolutely eyed every man who waznt lame white or noddin out she let her thigh slip from her skirt crossin the street

she slowed to be examined & she never looked back to smile

or acknowledge a sincere 'hey mama' or to meet the eyes of someone purposely findin sometin to do in

31/

her direction

she waz sullen & the rhinestones etchin the corners of her mouth suggested tears

fresh kisses that had done no good she always wore her stomach out

lined with small iridescent feathers the hairs round her navel seemed to dance

& she didnt let on

she knew from behind her waist waz aching to be held the pastel ivy drawn on her shoulders

to be brushed with lips & fingers smellin of honey & jack daniels

she waz hot

a deliberate coquette who never did without what she wanted

& she wanted to be unforgettable

she wanted to be a memory a wound to every man

arragant enough to want her she waz the wrath

of women in windows fingerin shades/ ol lace curtains

camoflagin despair & stretch marks

so she glittered honestly

32/

delighted she waz desired & allowed those especially

schemin/ tactful suitors to experience her body & spirit

tearin/ so easily blendin with theirs/

& they were so happy & lay on her lime sheets full & wet from her tongue she kissed them reverently even ankles edges of beards ...

The stage goes to darkness except

for a special on the lady in red,

who lies motionless on the floor; as

the lights slowly fade up the lady

in red sits up.

at 4:30 AM she rose movin the arms & legs that trapped her she sighed affirmin the sculptured man & made herself a bath of dark musk oil egyptian crystals

& florida water to remove his smell

to wash away the glitter to watch the butterflies melt into suds & the rhinestones fall beneath her buttocks like smooth pebbles

33/

in a missouri creek layin in water

she· became herself ordinary

brown braided woman with big legs & full lips reglar

seriously intendin to finish her night's work

she quickly walked to her guest

straddled on her pillows & began

'you'll have to go now/ i've a lot of work to do/ & i cant

with a man around/ here are yr pants/ there's coffee on the stove/ its been very nice/ but i cant see you again/ you got what you came for/ didnt you'

& she smiled

he wd either mumble curses bout crazy bitches or sit dumbfounded while she repeated

'i cdnt possibly wake up/ with a strange man in my bed/ why dont you go home'

she cda been slapped upside the head

or verbally challenged but she never waz & the ones who fell prey to the

34/

dazzle of hips painted with

orange blossoms & magnolia scented wrists had wanted no more

than to lay between her sparklin thighs & had planned on leavin before dawn & she had been so divine

devastatingly bizarre the way her mouth fit round & now she stood a

reglar colored girl fulla the same malice livid indifference as a sistah

worn from supportin a wd be hornplayer or waitin by the window

& they knew

& left in a hurry she wd gather her tinsel & jewels from the tub & laugh gayly or vengeful

she stored her silk roses by her bed & when she finished writin

the account of her exploit in a diary embroidered with lilies & moonstones

she placed the rose behind her ear & cried herself to sleep.

35/