Lectern
an open book, leatherbound with a tattered cover
rests on an antique nightstand
the dim orange glow from a hurricane lamp provides
perfect light to imagine you using my body as a lectern from which to read your sacred words
you rest one hand on my shoulder
and I accept the weight of a tome
you place upon exposed dimples of Venus
my spine pressing against its spine (waiting patiently)
while you scratch notes above perfect parallel lines
to break my concentration as devoted object
and usher my return to curious creature
my hips shift,
like a soft wave summoning a lost sailor ashore
you sweep your lips with feather-light precision against my ear
your hands follow whispered words
wandering along my serpentine frame
where you will be granted safe passage to discover
untamed urge
13 thoughts on "Lectern"
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beautiful …. each stanza draws the reader in deeper to the scene…
the entire last stanza totally blows me away!!
Thank you, Leah! Truth be told, a fellow writer friend gave me a challenge. She told me to use body, an inanimate object, and an ocean reference. I went for it.
Thank you for reading!
Your writer friend sounds like a good influence.
You brought the elements together. Well. Well enough I didn’t respond til hours and multiple readings later. I had to remember how to breathe first.
As chance has it, my PoMo friend gave me a challenge for today’s as well. Her requirements are precipitous to say the least.
All that aside, I believe this piece took you to a new height, H. Seriously. With a week of our collective consortium left, I can’t wait to see where it takes your already breathtaking writing.
Special nod to “dimples of Venus.” The entirety was strikingly visual to the mind’s eye, but that image, perhaps, the clearest.
Oh, wow. This is a major compliment, Joseph. You are such a talented writer. The fact that you read this a few times and responded so generously means a lot to me. My friend, Rhea, isn’t a PoMo participant, but I sent her a text asking for “three interesting things to put in a poem.”
What did your writers friend suggest for you? Wait….don’t tell me. I hope to read what you do with this lofty challenge! I am more than certain you’ll craft something masterful. Happy writing!!
Oh, I missed the paet about breathing. 🤣 Please remember to breathe. This topic/style is not my wheelhouse or my comfort zone, so I hope the breathlessness means something good. ☺️
Wheelhouse or no, the gears were turning adeptly.
I hope to craft “something good” as well.
Yes great writing!
Thank you! 💜
I’m blushing! Beautiful poem!
Why, thank you!
Thank you, Linda! This one took me a little time to craft. I was digging for a specific feel by way of short descriptions. I appreciate your feedback.
this one made me *blush* too.
quite erotic..
love the lamplit vibe.
Why, thank you. That’s the second comment with blushing as a response. I hope that is a good thing.