Fuss of Life
for Nevis Pratt

so many stories hidden
in a woman’s anatomy

within the hips of women
rings similar to rings
within trunks of trees

all seasons accounted for
all seasons register

ups and downs
waves of the sea
peaks and troughs

rocks waves splash against

what we pass through
pass through us too


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
3:29 p.m. 10.07.08


A Door Opens
for Nevis Pratt

i.
flaw weighed in against adorable
and was outdone, over shadowed

the balance of these
and I accepted that
I was witnessing beauty

beholding a charming woman
able to bear the weight
of investigation

deserving examination, scrutiny

not at all someone
we’d not look twice at

someone to look at again and again
and not tire

not one to look twice at
and be bored stiff

ii.
garden of flowers to sniff and sniff
until asked to leave
because the grounds were closing

chain around the gate
to lock the petals, the fragrances in
the public out

let them rest, replenish
retain freshness, splendor

I could pick the garden lock
to see her again

even if it’s dark
and all I can do is sniff about
until the sun came up

until dew-wet petals opened
like palms in prayer

in supplication to God and sky


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
12:56 a.m. 11.07.08