Passing you in the hall a week after the women's sensual gathering

by Miriam Axel-Lute
(12/04/02)

You are a pair of thrift store jeans
So familiar, an experience fully mine,
but nameless, without adoption papers
or history.
Do you know when
you see me that I am
remembering the taste
of your stretch marks
the moment where your skin
turned from public to private
that I am remembering
fitting your breast
into my far too little mouth
while my girlfriend took the other
that I am remembering
the world shrinking to one chair
one task
Did you recognize my tongue for the first time
when you heard it speak
suggesting a new idea to my girlfriend
asking you if you liked it
Did you place my face
in the moment after the blindfold came off
as we look one last look at you before
turning away
and kissing each other
Do you recognize me now, suddenly,
like the previous owner of thrift store jeans
who thought she would never see that pair again

©2002 by Miriam Axel-Lute

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Reader Comments

---

Miriam Axel-Lute's poetry has appeared in journals including The Paterson Literary Review, Secrets Between Girls, Dreamboat, and the anthology Touched By Eros. She was a finalist in the 2000 Allen Ginsburg Awards. Her chapbook, Souls Like Mockingbirds, is available on her Web site.