State-side Entry

I'm back in the States! I have not much to say today and have to get ready for dinner now, so I'm going to just share one of my favorite poems that's been stuck in my head for a fews days now. My birthday present to you . . . .

SUZANNE
John Logan

You make us want to stay alive, Suzanne,
the way you turn

your blonde head.
The way you curve your slim hand

toward your breast.
When you drew your legs

up, sitting by the fire,
and let your bronze hair

stream about your knees
I could see the grief

of the girl in your eyes.
It touched the high,

formal bones of your face.
Once I heard it in your lovely voice

when you sang –
the terrible time of being young.

Yet you bring us joy with your
self, Suzanne, wherever you are.

And, once, although I wasn’t here,
you left three roses on my stair.

One party night when you were high
you fled barefoot down the hall,

the fountain of your laughter
showering through the air.

“Chartreuse,” you chanted
(the liqueur you always wanted),

“I have yellow chartreuse hair!”
Oh it was a great affair.

You were the most exciting person there.
Yesterday when I wasn’t here

again,
you brought a blue, porcelain

egg to me
colored beautifully

for the Russian Easter.
Since then, I have wanted to be your lover,

but I have only touched your shoulder
and let my fingers brush your hair,

because you left three roses on my stair.