MiPOesias Magazine

GRACE CAVALIERI

Grace Cavalieri is the author of eleven books of poetry. Her plays include off-Broadway productions. She's also written texts and lyrics performed for opera, television and film; she is adapting her latest book, Pinecrest Rest Haven, for stage. Grace teaches poetry workshops throughout the country at numerous colleges. She produced and hosted "The Poet and the Poem," weekly, on WPFW-FM (1977-1997) presenting 2,000 poets to the nation. She has a weekly column on miPOradio, INNUENDOES.

Say What You Will

I miss them. The women of the 50’s, plain sheath dresses, large plastic earrings, coifed hair. How they moved in the room. The one with misshapen legs would be complimented for her stockings. The women greet each other and touch hands. I lean my back against the white linen lady, my back against her heart. She places her hand over my shoulder high on my chest and holds me to her. It says I know something bad, I will never tell you. Your husband. There is no redress. How I miss them, the women of the 60’s, sandals and long colorful skirts, flopping their brilliance for sale. A high level of amiability, motives for manners, the women of the 80’s clicking high heels at meetings, lunch, umbrellas lost in restaurants. They do not like the light, these spirits. I lean back. I can still feel her hand on my chest, they died just when everything was going so well, and she almost a perfect stranger.

The Telephone Stalker Is Head Over Heels In Love

What does it look like - really really look like?
Long arms stretching out of sight?
Seeing around corners? Upside down like that?

He said he was head over heels
when the telephone rang, the middle of the night,
and his arm was out of sight again,
a very long silence and it scared her.

Then the laughter, a joke
like pounding interference but
she was not head over heels and
she could still hold on to things, call for help.

His heels were over his head, he said
and that's why he couldn't sleep with her,
it must have been the position.

And he'd had another wife besides but
what would a live cherry
mean to an upside down man?

She never understood what he said
but from his angle, the view from there,
it was logical in a way, it was understandable,
and how could he be blamed.

Other People’s Arms

What is this illegal operation
I’ve performed while
Watching from a distance?
Age! What a surprise!
Leaving us in the dark,
Reaching -
I brush your hand against mine,
I meet your gaze,
We look out different windows,
To see the same tree.
All days come to this, pears
Turning to wine, bucketing
Up and down
Against shafting memory.