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October - First Place Poetry Winner (Tie) by Jennifer Barizo
from Legacy 1999
October
1st Place Poetry Winner (Tie)
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by Jennifer Barizo
Because she performed to reinvent herself
she understood. She knew how in
the concert-hall dark there was
No longer him or her, or we, or anything
Imperfect or past. For him it was just
All the goodness left over from
Summer and the taste of joy - like
Melons on a hot afternoon, or salt
Water, sea water on the lips,
But that was months ago,
October she learned the weight of love,
In Boston, suddenly, knew that it was
Heavier than a wrist on a heart or
A cheekbone against a breast,
It was more. The truth of it,
The gist of it was not in the
The gist of it was not in the
Subterrestial bars on Huntingon St.
Or the neon sings with their
Fingers of light. He taught her.
Nights later she would see the dark
Red side of love, carving a name
In her chest, but October -
She was still wet in a season
Of fire. Still fastidious about
Her beauty. Still green.
