Alex Stolis

The way the story is told, Alison was caught
falling in love with a great man, then thoughts
of doubt, like spiders creeping through an open
window slowly awakened her. She realizes now
the day was orange and used, not warm or soft
but a secret, a forgotten taste in her mouth.

She disguised her voice and painted her mouth
an aqua blue, her friends helped. Ramona caught
fire, spread the word with her eyes, starting soft,
a hint of jealousy turned them hard black. Thoughts
and ideas were bantered about like songs, even now
Alison says miracles happen if her mind is open.

Hosfield acted chivalrous and aristocratic, holding open
doors, writing poems. He gently covered her mouth
with rose petals, always pink, the color Ramona now
calls Winter. He believed they were destiny, caught
in a legend soon to become mythology. Soon, thoughts
became hardened, no longer clay, pliable and soft.

He dreamed about the beat of her heart, rapid and soft
against his chest, Our love is a sculpture, my hands open
in prayer. I am in the Garden of Gethsemane, my thoughts
only of you, he would say. Alison's eyes closed, her mouth
turned down, cheeks became slightly flushed, she felt caught
in a lie; she tried but all her thoughts were of tomorrow now.

Misery shines in Alison's eyes, at first green, blue now,
jealousy shrinks in a wave of heat. Her hair is washed soft
from rain, she dips her heel in a puddle; confused, caught
up in a moment Ramona now calls Spring her eyes open,
she reads Hosfield's last poem. She covers her mouth
reaches for the door, afraid to be alone with her thoughts.

Ramona was the first to her rescue, Alison's thoughts
were in Africa, she heard Hosfield called it home; now
her hair is dyed a red Ramona calls Summer, her mouth
painted sienna. She realizes today is warm and soft
not the hard edge she once knew when doors swung open
and sin existed in poems with no chance of being caught.

Alison's thoughts no longer drift to Algeria and gritty soft
deserts, Hosfield's words are gone now, her eyes open;
her mouth longs for love, she no longer fears being caught.