Two poems by j. lewis

death as a naked woman
 
came to me in an hour of despair
said she would be my escort home
fee paid in full, no tip required
 
she pulled my hand to a breast
the color of aged ivory
cold, silky, and smooth
not the pale, languid white
of vampires' faces
or the bloodless dainty bosoms
of medieval portraits
 
i was unmoved
 
she lifted my gaze to her eyes
not deep, dark pools of poet-lore
but lively, sparkling emeralds
as though she had just blown in
from columbia, zambia or brazil
fresh from taking her fill
of broken-backed miners
 
i did not blink
 
she brushed her lips across mine
smiled to show the seductive contrast
of pearls against rubies
spoke softly, sweetly in my terrified ears
come into death
let me be your first
and last desire
 
i forgot to breathe, briefly
 
but i am old, and thoughtful
no longer the fire-veined youth
who would have leaped at the chance
no, i simply whispered back
you've got the wrong number
i'm waiting for the ancient one
black cloak, sharpened scythe
no face to speak of
that's the only death
 
i care to follow





chicago symphony
 
the way he talked
i was sure we were going
to the symphony center
where all the great music happens
 
from the time he picked me up
it was non-stop chatter about
majors, minors, sevenths, and ninths
first string, second string
beautifully orchestrated plays
pitches, slides, rests
tags, short stops, runs,
practice paying off
in winning scores
 
he went on about hits
first, second, and third
(the standard chord inversions)
the whole thing coming home
and i was really excited
for an evening of music
but there was a catch
 
and i finally caught on
as we pulled into the parking lot
of wrigley field



​

 Bio: j.lewis is an internationally published poet, musician, and nurse practitioner. His poetry and music reflect the complexity of human interactions, sometimes drawing inspiration from his experience in healthcare. When he is not otherwise occupied, he is often on a kayak, exploring and photographing the waterways near his home in California.

---