Astronomy 

My foster father made me

suck his dick when I was seven

says my friend in the passenger seat

as I drive the sunset hills,

the car a private world.

My blood thickens with compassion

for her mouth and tongue

used in that way.

How can I now speak

any words that would not gag me?

So I reach across 

the space between us 

to cover her hand

as the car fills with silence

and long light

until I notice Venus

floating between 

the orange clouds,

and whisper there’s Venus and Jupiter, 

and between them Saturn.

She opens the window,

allows the wind to wash her face,

says Let’s look for Orion,

his three-star belt. I leave my hand

on hers, o Venus, goddess 

of every kind of love.

~~~

Seduction

In 1975 I was a paralegal 

standing on a windy corner

next to three grey suits, 

all of us heading to a meeting

to proof a prospectus,

whatever that was.

I asked, 22 or 36 bus

but one suit hailed a Yellow Taxi

and we all fell into the back seat,

my first time. 

Fragrance of unknown aftershave,

Cuban cigars, smothered my Wind Song,

crowded my thin cotton dress.

Money papered the cab ceiling,

hundreds flew out the windows.

No one cared.

They were already opening

their oiled leather briefcases,

expensive faces reading Forbes.

I wanted an affair

with each one of them.

Like all sweet accidents

this will only happen once.