by Thomas Piekarski
7
Called vixen
&&&&&&&&you respond
playing piano
&&&&&&&&yet fingerless
causing fractures
&&&&&&&&fizzled nerves
as ideals
&&&&&&&&once integral
go rogue
&&&&&&&&like purple
lipstick smeared
&&&&&&&&on mirrors
or musical
&&&&&&&&notes played
now memories
&&&&&&&&vestiges of
your face
&&&&&&&&blocked out
blank space
&&&&&&&&even though
you never
&&&&&&&&intended to
cause distress
&&&&&&&&cinched tight
and shielded
&&&&&&&&inside my
big soothing
&&&&&&&&digital arms
&

Thomas Piekarski

Thomas Piekarski is a former editor of the California State Poetry Quarterly. His poetry has appeared in publications internationally, including Taj Mahal Review, Poetry Quarterly, Pennsylvania Literary Journal, Poetry Salzburg, and South African Literary Journal. He has published a travel guide, Best Choices In Northern California, as well as three books of poetry, the latest of which is Mercurial World (Cyberwit) 2020.

Artist: Mallory Barry