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How It All keeps Its Rhythm

Posted by HaiAnh on April 2, 2008 - 22:15
from the ABC set Safety goggles must be worn at all times

First that Chicago click of heels, tap drip,
then the low, uncontrollable sigh as they sit,
skirts shoved up hastily, trousers slung to the floor,
a room of women, uncrossing themselves, thighs open
thongs pulled taut like catapults guarding each door -
which kindly hold their coats for them.
Even the seat has been warmed,
signs put up to warn them if a man will come
in unannounced to this party of girls pealing back
plastic, sliding their fingers up into Kimberley-Clark’s
toilet roll holder and tracing their hand along the edges,
like skimming a reel of Sellotape, before passing
the tissue parcel under the next cubicle
and thanking each other often.

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Comments

Doeslittle | April 4, 2008 - 20:51

Excellent, clever. Liked it very much.

HaiAnh | April 4, 2008 - 23:14

Thank you Doeslittle x

mcmanaman | April 4, 2008 - 23:39

I like 'thongs pulled taut like catapults.' the last line is cool too
really like this haiannie.
x

HaiAnh | April 6, 2008 - 17:05

Thank you mcmanaman - I wrote it in Liverpool street station toilets whilst I was very bored, waiting for Nathan. xxx

mcmanaman | April 11, 2008 - 23:09

bloody nathan x

animan | April 22, 2008 - 11:26

This poem explained something about what it is to be a woman, that I feel I have never been granted such a strong insight on before. I realise it's meant to be humorous, or at least I think so, but it's a clever and very honest poem and is confident enough to explore the contours of a kind of sense of vulnerability at a very basic level - sorry if that sounds a bit 'pseud' on my part.