Louise Mathias

Mecca

He comes to me with something on his hands neither one of us
can identify. I quit trying and the orchid drops her blossoms
to the floor. Discarded little skirts. It’s 108, too hot
for blindfolds, problems not involving blood. City of Anna,
he mumbles. Your neck as a golden distributor of sweat.
Two shadows, all-fours. Smoothing the motel bedspread
like this were a church. Like all chemicals I bloomed
in secret, for a while.

Louise Mathias is the author of two books of poems, Lark Apprentice (New Issues Press) and The Traps (Four Way Books). She lives in Joshua Tree, California.