High Wind

A woman stood on a balcony drinking tea,

cold and molded in her wrapper. Above her

a commotion of wind drove ridge upon ridge of clouds

over the mackerel sky. Below her

a couple appeared, amorous Siamese twins

joined at the side. The man's hand moved

up the girl's tender ribcage,

bone by linked bone. Her head, suave and round

as a coconut, lifted to him

and abrupting from it was a great fleece of hair

flying straight back: blond

leaves and silk, crude corn. Her yellow skirt

ignited on the air, jerked to her waist,

was yanked to her nougat knees,

circled and stirred. The woman on the balcony

watched in wonder, seeing all this gold

sprung upon the wind, beside itself. She held her peace

but she thought: Do they leap, do they bite,

the yellow animals of her head and lap?

But perhaps he

feeds them, caresses them, gives them

everything a body could want.