After the deep bath
where they breathed together
After the rug from Azerbaijan has been rolled up
The deep red duvet cover
ripples
red waves spilling to the floor
reminding me of an oil painting
I saw once
in a window in the Marais
Picture a man leaning over the textured fabric
intent
watching for movement
looking
for the outline of a leg
the movement of a hand
His eyes lift
He looks at me
There is a sound
Is it purring?
Yes
"like a tiger" he whispers
"like a lioness across the plain" I
whisper
Yes
She is labouring in her cave
far from us
under the fabric
hair clinging to her forehead
like a toddler's hair clings to his neck
after a nap
We have our hands
light
on pulse points
hand touching ankle
hand touching wrist
stillness
Light crosses from the window to the bed
Lioness
Light
And the baby is coming
As the cherry trees
spill confetti onto the sidewalk outside
- Jacquie Munro
- Jacquie Munro
