miasma
terrible things come
from the simplest acts
entering a room
opening an envelope
touching
reading between the lines
pretending you didn't see
saying "yes"
stranger piece by piece
the silky feel
of his threadbare socks
the fine texture
of his ragged old briefs
holding you in
hugging close
his soft t-shirt
worn to the weight
of a spider's web
these things you've taken
get you as close to him
as you will ever be
you expect nothing more
never mind
just close your eyes
electra unmasked:
scene with an act
there was little doubt (naturally)
an afternoon so perfectly quiet would lengthen
to reveal an unsettling drama a hidden
paternal tableaux (read: tragedy or comedy)
the delicate skin
of a long-hidden surprise is peeled back
to reveal a shocking scene of what -betrayal?
the realization of a dawning foreknowledge?
in the second it takes to think
there is a stranger in my house
the intimate dance of guilt and blame begins
and he quietly closes the door on this oozing
wound of an image this wet scab of unease
this silently devastating moment he finds his
teenage son masturbating face pressed
into dad’s dirty shirt
[END]
© 2006 Timothy Wright - Contributor's
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