***************************
ASTOUNDISHNESS
***************************

The water shimmers turquoise.
It's another escape fantasy.
Cats, cat food, celebrate the teeth.
I'm running over, like a cup.
We're lucky that way.
Puppets preferable to clones.
Choice is naked longevity.
A lovely set of sandals.
Lacquers, varnishes and a studio boss.
Heart like turquoise.
Eyes like planets.
Rattish felicity.  Feral standard.
That's me.
Escape with my cats.

Susan Smith Nash

February 11, 2003

*************************
SWAN
*************************

Pawn the tutu.
Reluctant camp.
Elegant cowgirl, randy diamond.
Naughty provocateur.
Place the lozenge under your tongue.
We're stellar when the camera
shines like that -- zoom, pan, flash.
Hips like tulips.
Belly-white violet.
We see where we're going,
Now more than ever.
So sometimes we sip tea
Munch on Russian piroshkis
while raindrops pirouette on treetops
whisper en pointe:
There's sincerely no other way.

Susan Smith Nash

February 11, 2003

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CURTAINS
******************************

A tremendous paisley.
Thunderclouds crushing the horizon.
A force like that can only be --
Me and that bovine muddling
purely instinctual
syringes of fluff -- well it's better
let's crunch down on popsicles and straw.
We're five-ways goners;
Now you're reading this like code.
Six paces closer to fantastical estates.
The shades are drawn,
pearl-handled butter knives,
beagles clamouring for macaroni
liver snaps, crisped furrows
between the wheat and corn.
My past leaves hoofprints on your heart.
Sallow hopscotch and jumping nerves;
all before it's over
let's run the sunrise up,
smiles dangling from the edges.

Susan Smith Nash

February 11, 2003