(from AGNIonline: http://www.bu.edu/agni/poetry/
by Linda Lappin
A woman ascends
in an elevator
on her way
to an assignation.
to an assignation.
When it finally stops
on the top floor
on the top floor
she gets out
but finds
but finds
the door is locked.
But someone, luckily,
But someone, luckily,
temporarily
has loaned her the key just for the night.
Rather, a set of twenty-five
has loaned her the key just for the night.
Rather, a set of twenty-five
keys, one of which is surely
the one she needs.
But none work
and only when she turns away
with a yawn
does the door open invitingly
of its own accord
and the woman steps into a glittering room
where two arms in velvet sleeves
are reaching out to her.
But once inside
the door quickly shuts behind her
and vanishes
along with the arms, the room
the elevator, the building
her purse with the twenty-five keys
all her clothes
even her name.
The woman remains alone
naked, vertical
in an empty field
where the echo of a dog
can be heard barking
all the way back to childhood.
sended to me from my sweet and dearest friend Mark Jones.......................