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NO SWAN CAME.
Yehudit walked with me
in the woods
and sunlight pushed
through the branches
of trees overhead
birds sang
a rabbit rushed off
through the thick
undergrowth
she wore
the dark green skirt
and white blouse
school had ended
for the holiday
wonder if our swan
is there
she said
reminds me
of the Wagner opera
I liked the way
the sunlight
lit up her hair
as she walked
tints of dark brown
and light brown
a hair grip
held in place
unruly bits
Lohengrin
she said
that's it
that's the opera
she had undone
the green school tie
the collar loose
the tie untidily
pulled away
neck showed
last time
we saw it
at the lake
(the name
she called
the pond)
we sat and kissed
and you put
your hand
up my skirt
she said
where the blouse
was stretched
her breasts
pushed out
seeking escape
and there was that bloke
fishing over the way
and we didn't care
a toss
she said
I liked how
her soft
plump hand
held mine
her fingers
gripped mine
preventing their escape
had they wanted to
(which they didn't)
yes I remember that
I said
(we only noticed him
just before we kissed
tucked amongst trees)
is it unusual
for swans
to come to our lake?
she asked
I shouldn't think so
I said
(I hadn't thought
about it at all)
as we walked
I glanced at her profile
the nose
the flushed cheeks
the eyes blue
clear blue
as if
in white dishes
her hair brushed
in her usual
careless way
I hope he's not
there today
she said
it's not the same
kissing
in front of others
I doubt he is
I said
Lohengrin
yes I had heard
the highlights
of the opera
on the radio
a few times
the swan bit
she had said about
as we came
to the pond
(my word not hers)
we saw no one
was there
except ducks
and moor hens
and fish swimming
just under
the surface
we sat
on the warm
grassy bank
and she sat
with her chin
on her knees
her hands holding
her legs
peaceful
she said
a crow sounded nearby
a woodpecker tapped
away at some tree
I could see
the impression
of her bar strap
through the white
cotton blouse
at the back
how do they manage
to undo them?
I thought
my hands each side
of my legs
balancing me
I love it here
she said
I like it anywhere
I said
she turned
and playfully
hit my arm
I meant the place
not that
she said smiling
still no swan
I said
she looked
at the water's skin
a Mallard swam by
do you think of sex
all the time?
she said
pretty much
I said
I thought so
she replied
there was that heron
landed that time
I said
yes there was
she said
the sun was warm
white clouds
no swan
and us
making love
in my head.
