Celebrate Poem On Your Blog Weekend -- April 28th through 30th, 2006

Celebrate Poem On Your Blog Weekend -- April 28th through 30th, 2006, originally uploaded by ronntaylor

For the first day of "Poem On Your Blog Weekend," I've chosen a poem by one of my favorite Poets, Rita Dove. I plan to print out several copies and also Participate in "Poem In Your Pocket Day."

Adolescence II
by Rita Dove

Although it is night, I sit in the bathroom, waiting.

Sweat prickles behind my knees, the baby-breasts are alert.

Venetian blinds slice up the moon; the tiles quiver in pale strips.



Then they come, the three seal men with eyes as round

As dinner plates and eyelashes like sharpened tines.

They bring the scent of licorice. One sits in the washbowl,



One on the bathtub edge; one leans against the door.

"Can you feel it yet?" they whisper.

I don't know what to say, again. They chuckle,



Patting their sleek bodies with their hands.

"Well, maybe next time." And they rise,

Glittering like pools of ink under moonlight,



And vanish. I clutch at the ragged holes

They leave behind, here at the edge of darkness.

Night rests like a ball of fur on my tongue.


From Selected Poems by Rita Dove (Random House. © 1993 by Rita Dove)

Posted by ronn at April 28, 2006 01:30 AM