Michele Amas

instructions

wait     no, wait
on the back of an envelope, instructions
a square veggie plot at the back
hydrangeas on the left, a rock
beneath the long narrow Cyprus tree
under the rock a cough lolly tin
inside the tin, a key
wait     no, wait
returning to her side and the eyes
of men and the legs of a maiden aunt
on a screen her shy and blushing
vascular system, tubulous
tunnels of rose-root
beneath the water table of her skin
returning to watch her plunge
legs turned mermaids tail or tadpole
to whisper let me undo your hair
is that not like a breath
the beauty of ribbon, the clasp of kelp
on a hospital pillow
wait
returning the key to the cough lolly tin
I think of the age of the cough
and cakes of birthday soap
between sheets in a linen cupboard
a hairbrush in my hand
in the back of a taxi.

___________
More :
Johanna Aitchison | Hinemoana Baker | Sarah Jane Barnett | Airini Beautrais | Lucas Bernhardt | Charis Boos | James Brown | Rachel Bush | Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle | Craig Cliff | Geoff Cochrane | Cliff Fell | Joan Fleming | Bernadette Hall | Siobhan Harvey | Anna Jackson | Lynn Jenner | Frankie McMillan | Kathy McVey | Emma Neale | Mark O’Flynn | Geoff Page | Michael Palmer | Manon Revuelta | Harry Ricketts | Elizabeth Smither | Tim Upperton | Mercedes Webb-Pullman | Sue Wootton | Ashleigh Young