Niceties

Utamaro, ink-brush in hand and lost to the world,
eyeballs from zero his thirtyish woman,
enticed onto supple mulberry paper.
(So many years on a kitchen wall,
grazed by smoke and sun each day.)

She's good for politeness and well-kept skin.
18th. century decent, ready-made creature
for customers at the drop of a hat.

Sly dog — my artist takes ochre for the walls,
olive for the clean bare floor-boards,
and parting the silks on lonely thighs,
feints his nicety, suave in violet, black squiggles.

Her well-fed gentleman now, plum ply lunging,
in a flurry of robes, (indigo, persimmon) —
his huge pleasure stands beside her, waiting.

Then gripping her he says to me sideways:
"What I'm doing here's just for now,
I'll forget this all in good time"....

Seems we take his part in this, her's too.
What they're up to's more than droll —
persons eluding double entendres in a tidy room.

Nearby a small perfect kettle steams,
ready for their refreshment and the day.

Gerald Solomon

Archived 01/16/2012