When you say “wait”
and rise to your full height
your full and encompassing girth
your full measure
of curves and hips and thighs
.
your full dress
falling like first rain
across a blessing of breasts and belly
across a feast of touches:
your hand to mouth
your palm to waist
your fingers to smooth an imagined wrinkle
across your lap
your calves pushing back the chair
your falling napkin
against the surrendering table
.
. I know that you are going to say,
“…I’ll be right back”
but
there is something about the way
you leave the table
the way you press yourself anew
the way you rejoin the world above us
the way you enter an exiting
that says
to my soul
“It’ll take some courage
when she does that one last time”
.
.
.
Jas . Mardis
Jas Mardis 