Totem

Napowrimo 2022 Day 1:  The prompt is based on Robert Hass’s remarkable prose poem, “A Story About the Body.” The idea is to write your own prose poem that, whatever title you choose to give it, is a story about the body. The poem should contain an encounter between two people, some spoken language, and at least one crisp visual image.

I'll admit I don't like prose poems.  This was written as a poem first,  then rearranged into prose. 

Totem

That year I was in love with my own body - its curves, its hollows, flat belly,  toned arms, sleek thighs.  Nine months of restrictive eating had paid off.  I'd shed stone after stone, gaining accolades at the slimming club, a confidence in my new appearance. 

Hair bleached blonde, outfit chosen with care, I met him in the Bard's town for an afternoon of walking along the river. "I see you've brought your lunch box."  "I could hardly leave it behind."  "That's a tasty looking sausage." We talked non stop, filling the space between us with words, with innuendos, not yet ready to risk more.

At the end of our day, reluctantly returning to town, he followed a few paces behind.  Anticipation growing with each step, the tension almost unbearable, I stopped by a willow on the riverbank, breeze blowing through its feathery leaves in the dappled sunlight. My new young body turned itself towards him, pressed its length against his, opened its face for a kiss. 

Many years have since passed.  Sadly I've lost that magical body, said goodbye to that man. But I can call up that walk like a totem,  as fresh as the breeze through those leaves. 


© Copyright 2022. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved.



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