Poem Series: Dinner and Dancing

Olivia J. Brown

We must look like some sort of statue

Two flamenco dancers frozen in time

Fused together

Your legs between mine 

Then,

your hand

Then my face burrowed in your neck perfume

Kissing your bare shoulder 

Complimentary water condensing before you

That makes two of us

Bread left untouched

Thank God for candlelight

Your hand, a generous guide through

Performing the twelve count compás

Flipping through my menu, feigning pleasant conversation

One, two THREE

Inhale

Oh! Yes. The chicken looks nice

Four, five, SIX

Come closer, I need you

Seven, eight

I need you

Nine, ten

“Here’s that wine” interrupts

“To share the dessert menu” I say breathily intoxicated already 

Exhale

“Saving face”

You smile, take a sip and me for another spin

One, two THREE

I couldn’t tell you what you told the waiter

Four, five, SIX

Or when that conversation happened, for that matter

Seven, eight

Or how we made it home

Nine, ten

All I know is your hands are so rhythmic and persistent

I closed my eyes to follow your lead

You ushered me in with perfect timing 

TWELEVE

TW TWEL

TW

TWELVE

Then, we have dinner and pear desserts for breakfast