2003/sultry

Listening to sultry music
on a sultry day,
sewing a silk sarong.
Contemplating
a coral-colored hibiscus
in my hair
to match its pattern.
The same pattern
I’ve worn all winter
in a longer version.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned,
it’s that things change with the season.
I used to be sultry myself,
now I’m just trying to survive.
I was always trying to do that,
through love that didn’t
want me and jobs I couldn’t stand.
It ain’t easy to last,
especially without love
or work you can abide.
But so far I have,
though I won’t go into
all I’ve done in order
to do that.

7/17/03