Back to Fall 2020 

fleeting

BY RORIE NEWMAN

Wind purses her lips together     tightly

but loose enough

for her wisp of words

to glide over the shell of your ear

caressing the creases

and you     shiver

not from the cold

from her crisp enunciations

from the tip of her tongue

delicately

teasing her teeth    teasing you    teasing

the sharpness of winter yet to come


and her long lightning-like fingers

drag goosebumps down your arms    baboom

is that thunder

baboom

or the life leaking organ

baboom

throwing itself against your ribs

baboom

poundingPoundingPOUNDing

baboom

your breath has been frozen in your throat

baboom

the air stolen before it even reaches your lips

baboom

baboom

baboom


b r e a t h e


and the gentle Wind

flirts away

without a thought

to tempt the next lonely soul

walking


without a jacket