Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

D.A. Powell

MEDITATING UPON THE MEANING OF THE LINE “CLAMS ON THE HALFSHELL AND ROLLERSKATES” IN THE SONG “GOOD TIMES” BY CHIC

MEDITATING UPON THE MEANING OF THE LINE “CLAMS ON THE HALFSHELL AND ROLLERSKATES” IN THE SONG “GOOD TIMES” BY CHIC

MEDITATING UPON THE MEANING OF THE LINE “CLAMS ON THE HALFSHELL AND ROLLERSKATES” IN THE SONG “GOOD TIMES” BY CHIC

even the business of dying must be set aside occasionally. glaucous-winged gulls drafting
the last ferry across the bay:  lights of the city growing more luminous, more inviting

who could have guessed love’s a palpable thing:  a dark splotch of kelp in the shoals
or a mountain lion that prowls the edge of UC’s cypress woods: desires a young student
ivory mandible slack and slavering.    at the amber hour snarls its empty bowels

touch:  that sensation I’d almost lost, or how to curl into another body hermit-crab style
the grouchy old man in my mirror said “bare terror.” said “who’s sharing your towels?”

go away, you bitter cuss.    it’s still 1980 somewhere, some corner of your dark apartment
where the mystery of the lyric hasn’t faded.    and love is in the chorus waiting to be born


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MEDITATING UPON THE MEANING OF THE LINE “CLAMS ON THE HALFSHELL AND ROLLERSKATES” IN THE SONG “GOOD TIMES” BY CHIC

even the business of dying must be set aside occasionally. glaucous-winged gulls drafting
the last ferry across the bay:  lights of the city growing more luminous, more inviting

who could have guessed love’s a palpable thing:  a dark splotch of kelp in the shoals
or a mountain lion that prowls the edge of UC’s cypress woods: desires a young student
ivory mandible slack and slavering.    at the amber hour snarls its empty bowels

touch:  that sensation I’d almost lost, or how to curl into another body hermit-crab style
the grouchy old man in my mirror said “bare terror.” said “who’s sharing your towels?”

go away, you bitter cuss.    it’s still 1980 somewhere, some corner of your dark apartment
where the mystery of the lyric hasn’t faded.    and love is in the chorus waiting to be born


MEDITATING UPON THE MEANING OF THE LINE “CLAMS ON THE HALFSHELL AND ROLLERSKATES” IN THE SONG “GOOD TIMES” BY CHIC

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère