ELLEN ARNSTEIN
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The Night Bowie Died

Last night before we made love
I heard something through the speaker
over the din of Frasier’s voice and Nile’s love for Daphne
and it was repetitive and low
and it made me feel unsettled

We tangled and untangled and afterwards
the noise continued on -
Circadian or something, low and humming
and then lower and humming and I had to ask
if you could hear it to be sure it wasn’t inside me
and it wasn’t; we stepped outside
back in, windows opened and quieted
and through the cool desert air we heard it,
together, while it continued on

It must be a helicopter or something
A foghorn in the dust, those coyote ghost ships of cholla wood
and stardust, but it continued on and it kept us unsettled
and left us wondering what howl produced by the night time Catalinas
was lingering in our crisp and thankful night air

I fell asleep to the hum and dreamt of dancing
Of samba and cha cha and pushing forward
through loud and confident bachatas
And when I woke it felt strange and dizzy sort of like
I had rolled out of a twist and onto my
sheepskin bedside rug

I crept into the shower and uncharacteristically
forgot to close the bedroom door
Skirts were still twirling I guess or my feet
kept on moving from dream to reality
involuntarily and with suspect, a din of last nights hum still
leading me to some predictable daily destiny

I had bills to pay today and plans to keep on making
But as days washed off me under that water I also showered in the
memories turned soft and silky of nights spent dancing
and days spent turning
vinyl over and over into traceable pathways
that led me to the kind of worlds and truths that
my stomach always told me existed but no man’s maps
could ever lead me to find

What is there left but stardust anyways?
We’ll all die in five years time or five years more
Five years plus five years
is twice as many years as we’ll have left,
someday.
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  • HOME
  • SHOP
    • Books & Zines
    • Stickers
    • Cards, Prints & Paper Goods >
      • Cards
      • Postcards
      • Art Prints
      • Paper Decor
    • Divination Tools
    • Metaphysical Jewelry >
      • Earrings
      • Bracelets
      • Peace Bracelets
      • Rings
      • Necklaces
    • T-Shirts
    • Mugs
    • Keychains
    • 1" Buttons
    • Incense
    • Gift Card
    • Buy A Poem For Yourself Or Someone Else!
    • SHOP ALL
  • YOUR VERY OWN POEM
    • Intuited, Typewritten, Personal Poems
    • Personal Poetry Sessions: Share your story & let the muses respond
    • Book me for your next virtual event!
  • FREEBIES
    • FREE COLORING PAGES
    • FREE PROTEST POSTERS
    • FREE POEMS TO READ
    • FREE BUSINESS RESOURCES
    • ACTIVITES FOR HISTORIANS
    • Daily Wellness Journal