IN VENICE, THAT NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

by Lyn Lifshin

17 cats ran in and
out windows that
never closed as Hari
Krishna jingled up
from Muscle Beach.
The house I stayed in
quieted by 4 in the
afternoon when every
one left for work. I
curled in a stranger’s
yellow terry cloth
robe as if to soak up
some sun color. I
hoped I’d be charmed
in tight jeans and fur
jacket, imagined them
sliced from my back,
butterfly wings, as
angels and truckers
howled foxy and pulled
up close enough to
touch my arms clutch-
ing a bottle of Chianti
or scotch I hoped
would help me flare
and glitter like some
blood sun the Pacific
gulps


*Lyn's website:
http://www.lynlifshin.com/books.htm