(from) Romance: an essay
1#
Her hose felt like sheaths of clammy cloth on her exceptionally pretty legs
This ringing in my ears points to an historical deafness
By which I forget the tights I endured as a child with crotch permanently anchored midway between thigh and kneecap
Their unforgiving synthetic itch
Coupled with frigid winter air penetrating thin, scarred fabric
Such were the requirements of gender and formality during annual ecclesiastical events including the return of Santa and funerary Friday also referred to as good
Such unhappiness was present in my legs
Such a desire to be liberated
By cotton or love
It’s a fact that I’m taken by boyish charm
As embodied by her in my bed wearing a trucker’s hat and g string
#2
The heavy lashes that shadowed her cheeks flew up
All of this worn-out irony; these fluttering lashes and hurt feelings
We hold on for so little
Overlook grammatical errors and other fatal flaws
Your Oedipal heart murmur for instance
Our murderous yearning for redemptive and declarative statements
I have been privy to ponderous lies
Delivered like dessert gobbled up and giggled over
Kissy kissy
I understand there is no shame in hurt feelings
No romance
Just inflammation
Posted By: NJ Cullen