shot glass
title
"... brevity is the soul of wit ..."
- William Shakespeare

Nancy Scott


 

leaving london

for Michael

i packedwool sweatersfrom marks & spencer
cashmere coattartan skirtsfrom harrods
convincedravenous mothshad takenrefuge

in the trunksi tore clothes outflung them
gathered andrepacked themwhile you
barely fivecrouchedwide-eyednear the door

for five daysrough currentsseizedthe ocean
decks slickenedby salt waterwake spewing
foamlike globs of snowagainst the portholes

at nighti flew beyondthe stormpeered down
at hyde parkbright suntoy sailboatsrippling
the pondyou tuggingon a stringimpatient