Studies for a Poem About Seduction
by Jill Leininger
I. Milkpod
Indiscriminate tips. Poised on letting go,
the fibrous innards loosen and expel
their white breath with the wind: come
and rest, the marsh’s willing
hush will tuck you in.
II. Wool
Walking through the gift shop full
of blankets for other people’s children,
the little animals fascinate us
and you wish aloud for someone to whom
you could give the lamb,
glancing at my belly, which shows
for no good reason
other than to make
you look.
III. Nest
Settle in. There is a cup to hold
everything. Yet,
you’re determined to cast more—
as if to say that the possibility of containing
more made more. My urge
to take you into nature
distracts you from your task,
though never enough;
you’re gathering weeds.
IV. Country
It’s the day of daylight savings,
foreign to you
and your country. Rocking
on the library veranda, you finger
the Chinese poet’s five-beat bliss.
The sun is on the meadow
and I recognize the name
Lushan, which is closer to you
than this. It’s as if we’d swallowed
that hour, waiting
happily, finding excuses to climb
the green silence.
Is this the country? you ask. By that time,
I’d have said yes to anything.
Jill Leininger’s poems have recently appeared or are forthcoming in cream city review, Poetry International, and the Harvard Review Online. “Roof Picnic Skies, New York,” a chapbook of prose poems, is also available from dancing girl press. Find her on Twitter @congressoffish
Previous Poems:
Queer Love Poetry Day #1: Not Having a Smoke with You by Lillie Craw
Queer Love Poetry Day #2: Two Poems by Blaine Marchand
Queer Love Poetry Day #3: porch kitty & this too by Alysia Angel
Queer Love Poetry Day #4: Kite String and Keys by Blythe Baldwin
Queer Love Poetry Day #5: Valentine to My Unknown Lover by Linda Lenzke