John J. Trause

Don Arranges His Smile Into A Kiss

Your mouth is soft
like a soft mouth.
You move south
across the room and
flee courageously
into the night.
A sudden flash of ivory
gleaming like elephant tusks
or narwhale spikes
strikes the mirror.
You move south
around the night
which flees your lips,
your hips reveal
the skeletons of
misunderstood extinct
mammals.

© 2000  JOHN J. TRAUSE
NOTE:  Composed for Donald Zirilli’s 34th birthday, July 16, 2000.