Suzanne Fortin - Four Poems

you try to adjust, frustrated
at your semi-blindness
until you come into focus
and see crystal clear
the rumble of the waterfall
that rattles your ribcage
you want to go there
immerse yourself
become one with the water

a last gasp of restraint
and 7 years of chaste
and laboured dialogue 
will be taken
under the sheets
from  your mouth
to my bosom
in a sweep
of sacred breath

they make love
on an altar

among silver cups, crystal
and lilies

because it's the setting of their
passion play,

an improvisation
with always the same climax

the birth of a tiny 
church

 no handcuffs!
(that's passe)
but


they love getting nailed good


at

the
	
height 
	 	
 of
 


piety 
they throw off the sheets



the light of the rising sun caresses them
their sweaty flesh scintillates back

their eyes lower like velvet curtains

they descend like seagulls upon carre d'youville
infested-- plagued-- with suburban overkill  

girls whose chests are illustrated with cannabis
spraypaint "fuck chretien" on the royal bank edifice 
boys drink the latest  from the microbrewery
sporting impudent nose and eyebrow jewelry

a man with an earring nods to "heart-shaped box"
as his partner curses televangelist flocks
i try to shut out the tabarnaks 
watch the crosslight   avoid the bike racks   condemn them

for being so crass and lewd    forget
that it's only smug certitude    try to

drown out
		silence
				the public mood  

drown out
		silence 
				in solitude



NOTES: 

Carre d'Youville: [CA-ray DYOO-VILL]  a sqaure in Quebec City where the 
marginal types hang out.

Chretien: Refers to Jean Chretien, prime minister of Canada, whose 
surname translates as "Christian".

"Heart-Shaped Box": song by Nirvana.

"Tarbanak" : [TAB-ber-NAK] A French Canadian swear word; corruption of 
the French word "tabernacle".