qarrtsiluni

by Marjorie Saiser

Here’s to my knees, especially the left one
and the small grating sound it makes,
when I lie on the beach and bicycle it above me,
slow in the sun.

A blessing of sorts on my ankles, which are thick
(I refuse to curse them anymore)
and do not forget the fat sleek toes,
nails painted red, those shameless cowgirls.

Here’s to shins playing straight man to the calves.
Thighs browning, shiny with oil.
Let the bottom of each foot
have its time on hot sand.

Let the feet take all the body to the water,
let the legs look around below sea level, let them
kick, cavort, mislead;
let the ocean have them for its one split tongue.

Download the podcast

Marjorie Saiser’s books are available from Backwaters Press. Saiser was named Distinguished Artist in Poetry in 2009 by the Nebraska Arts Council, and part of that award will be publication of a new book of poetry in 2010. Samples of her work can be found on her website.