What if I were turned on by seemingly innocent words such as
   "scumble," "pinky,"
or "extrapolate?"  
What if I maneuvered conversation in the hope that others would
   pronounce these words?  
Perhaps the excitement would come from the way the other person
   touched them lightly and carelessly with his tongue.  
What if "of" were such a hot button?
"Scumble of bushes."
What if there were a hidden pleasure
in calling one thing
by another’s name?
 
Copyright © 2006 by Rae Armantrout. Appears with permission of the author.

Poems by This Author

Chirality by Rae Armantrout
If I didn't need
Custom by Rae Armantrout
We maintain a critical distance
Exact by Rae Armantrout
Quick, before you die
Thing by Rae Armantrout
We love our cat
Two, Three by Rae Armantrout
Sad, fat boy in pirate hat
Unbidden by Rae Armantrout
The ghosts swarm
Upper World by Rae Armantrout
If sadness
Yonder by Rae Armantrout
Anything cancels


Further Reading

Related Poems
Spine to Spin, Spoke to Speak
by Andrew Joron