The Visit

Like brick pavers, I attempt to lay
a first impression smoothly,
relieved when shoes, without protest
are removed in the foyer,
and voices are kept
to a respectable pitch
under the paws
of a golden retriever
Pride sweetens me
when 'pleases' and 'thank yous'
crop up without cue
in all the right places
The children play Sailors;
I admire your azaleas;
we circle to the atrium
and then past the pillars
that present with grace
an open water view
Between cocoa steam
we talk Cub Scouts and camp-outs,
smile at the likenesses
of your boy and mine
Luckily the skirt
I happen to be wearing
is long enough to hide
two runs in my stockings
You show me your shots
of a hike in the Alps;
I don't mention our bus tour
through downtown Dubuque,
and after lemon chiffon
and the dance of leave-taking,
I'm certain you think
we make a good friendship fit
when before your front door
glides shut on my heels,
my littlest blurts 'Mom!
Are they filthy rich?'


Blossom Estates

Shades may not be drawn
before nine o'clock in the evening
If you wish to plant petunias
they are to be used as edging
Doors have to be painted white
mailboxes made of brass
fences picket
If your skin is darker than Nestlé Quik
you must wear gold
to neutralize it
Boys with skateboards who
take off their shirts
will be herded home
their parents blue-slipped
Sign here to accept
the consequences if you
take in a stray
let your Taurus rust
If this seems stringent
let me remind you
our turf is kept swept
of delinquent fathers
promiscuous coeds
souped-up, cat-in-heat cars without mufflers
T-shirts from the Harley outlet
that say 'If you can read this
the bitch fell off'


Banished

She wasn't like the other moms
who drove cranky Studebakers with
baskets of laundry in the back seat,
and fetched us from school
to see kittens being born

No, she pressed screen doors open
with cotton fingers, smelled like lilacs
a week past their prime, served us sandwiches
with the crusts cut away, called them petit fours,
placed them on napkins

In her daughter's room the canopy bed
was as high as the ceiling, Thumbelina dolls
as big as babies. The whole block got invited
to birthdays that featured live ponies, pinatas,
cakes on pedestals

But when Debby announced
Clark will do anything you tell him
even pull down his pants
I said Clark do that pull down your pants
and there an orb shone above his corduroys

which was when she was there.
Twice the smacks across his face.
She told him to Debby smirked and I saw
her mother go rigid, her eyes narrow, her hiss
I knew you were trouble, don't ever come back

Through the foyer I raced and saw
those petit fours cupped in my hopscotch hands
the hungry time I had sworn I washed them,
and her eyes showed she knew
I lied