A story told in Etherees*

"Anticipation"

I
bought new
sheets for my
bed in case you
suggest we might be
more than correspondents
when you drive across three states
to attend that farm convention.
Alas, you bring another woman,
so my virginal bedding remains so.

After your tongued goodbye kiss last year,
you seem surprised at my light lip peck
tonight. No one but Dilly sees,
Mary having already
entered the meeting room.
Later, you warm up.
Platonically,
we visit
over
drinks.
~~~~


"Losing Mary"

 A
year's worth
of letters
sent back and forth
via the P. O.
should entitle us to
at least a modicum of
easy familiarity:
sitting together at meetings, meals--
Who cares if folks  think we are an item?
~~~~

"Serendipity?"

A
colleague
sat between
us--gathered once
more to drink a toast
and say goodbye. What force
caused you and me to sit back,
stretch an arm behind this person
at precisely the same moment? Our
fingers touched, then eagerly entwined.
~~~~

"AfterThe Dance"

I
wonder:
sparkling eyes
made so by male
attention, red wine,
and the last occasion
to hold someone and be held,
unfettered, like Cinderella's
ball, the prince, the possibilities--
But in the reasoned light of day, all ends.
#

c 2012 by Pat Laster

* The Etheree syllabic poetry pattern was created by the Malvern, Arkansas, poetess, Etheree Armstrong. By the end of the post, you have figured the syllabic pattern, which can be reversed, as in the second poem. Since Karen Hesse writes stories in free verse, why not a story in Etherees?