r u t h    w i l l i a m s

His Gurgette

California

Escapade

His Gurgette

Block throat, cock-wide canker. I am
flanged to spine you, wound-wanker. Hang on

to another name for this. Love
to make you skin gorged, ganked to my plank.

What plink? What marble
shims me? You must be shank-in.

Portion full, I am fattened. In my backyard,
the hipped slank gleans. Gathering

your finger, the fence spreads
puffer quills.

next

California

Boraxed, a fine grit
sifts the hands.

The sun rises like an oreo
soaked of color.

Wail a lamentation for
xenophobia.

Too many wide skies. Gush
to uncover the coastal edges.

Skin, gone turgid,
glistening like a pink egg.

Someone send me home,
care of my mother.

next

Escapade

To douse the head. To plank your soul. Heathen,
my tongue on you. There is no giving up now.

I worked myself to a milagro approach to your skin. I knew
I could not be you, but I tried.

The jewel in your throat is an Indiana Jones
and my slipper socks are in my father's hands.

It means I am yours dear. I am flanneled and passive,
ready for your fist.

next

RUTH WILLIAMS's work has been previously published in jubilat, no tell motel, H_ngm_n, Bone Bouquet, 42 Opus, Barrelhouse, Barn Owl Review, and Bateau among others. A chapbook of her work is forthcoming from Dancing Girl Press in January 2012. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in English Lit. and Creative Writing at the University of Cincinnati as well as co-curator of the Bon Mot/ley Reading Series.

a l i c e   b l u e    t h i r t e e n

I S S N     1 5 5 9 - 6 5 6 7