Athena In the Afternoon
ATHENA IN THE AFTERNOON
We drove the high edge of the valley,
late summer lush green, the cobalt sky
a passing cold front with lightning and
rain threatening our day
“It’s beautiful!” I said
“Yes!” she replied like a lazy idea in red
thong sandals, dark blue jeans, a man’s
oversize shirt, her curly black hair an
elegant chaos from an ancient Greek vase
I mentioned the sky, she reached for her
purse, applied color to her face
“Yes, Honey” she said as she painted her
lips red with a narrow black brush
I said “You don’t even know…….
“Not now” she said, her black-rimmed
glasses reflecting the valley, the deepening
sky, the depth in her eyes
“Honey”, she said, “we’ll crash for sure
if you don’t watch the road and I’m really
not pretty, I just am what I am until you
look at me, then…I am….your love”
The lightning flashed twice, caught the
red ribbon in her hair
She drew a sudden breath….and leaned
closer to me
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