American Girl

She waits another week to fall apart...

About me

American girls are weather and noise....

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. ~ Thomas Paine

When a Woman Loves a Man
by David Lehman

When she says Margarita she means Daiquiri.
When she says quixotic she means mercurial.
And when she says, "I'll never speak to you again,"
she means, "Put your arms around me from behind
as I stand disconsolate at the window."

He's supposed to know that.

When a man loves a woman he is in New York and she is in Virginia
or he is in Boston, writing, and she is in New York, reading,
or she is wearing a sweater and sunglasses in Balboa Park and he
is raking leaves in Ithaca
or he is driving to East Hampton and she is standing disconsolate
at the window overlooking the bay
where a regatta of many-colored sails is going on
while he is stuck in traffic on the Long Island Expressway.

When a woman loves a man it is one-ten in the morning,
she is asleep he is watching the ball scores and eating pretzels
drinking lemonade
and two hours later he wakes up and staggers into bed
where she remains asleep and very warm.

When she says tomorrow she means in three or four weeks.
When she says, "We're talking about me now,"
he stops talking. Her best friend comes over and says,
"Did somebody die?"

When a woman loves a man, they have gone
to swim naked in the stream
on a glorious July day
with the sound of the waterfall like a chuckle
of water ruching over smooth rocks,
and there is nothing alien in the universe.

Ripe apples fall about them.
What else can they do but eat?

When he says, "Ours is a transitional era."
"That's very original of you," she replies,
dry as the Martini he is sipping.

They fight all the time
It's fun
What do I owe you?
Let's start with an apology
Ok, I'm sorry, you dickhead.
A sign is held up saying "Laughter."
It's a silent picture.
"I've been fucked without a kiss," she says,
"and you can quote me on that,"
which sounds great in an English accent.

One year they broke up seven times and threatened to do it
another nine times.

When a woman loves a man, she wants him to meet her at the
airport in a foreign country with a jeep.
When a man loves a woman he's there. He doesn't complain that
she's two hours late
and there's nothing in the refrigerator.

When a woman loves a man, she wants to stay awake.
She's like a child crying
at nightfall because she didn't want the day to end.

When a man loves a woman, he watches her sleep, thinking:
as midnight to the moon is sleep to the beloved.
A thousand fireflies wink at him.
The frogs sound like the string section
of the orchestra warming up.
The stars dangle down like earrings the shape of grapes.

posted by: AmericanGirl at 13:47 | link | comments (10) |

Comments:

#1  31 March 2005 - 13:52

 

Okay, this just made my day. I'm printing it and then shutting down my computer. Really.

InMyLife

#2  31 March 2005 - 14:15

 

Me too, I am printing it. WONDERFUL POEM! Can't promise the shut down till later though. Great, great poem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leigh

#3  31 March 2005 - 14:18

 

Anybody going to opening day (night) on Sunday? Spring has sprung and the Yanks and Sox begin again! Yipee!

Leigh

#4  31 March 2005 - 14:26

 

Isn't it great? I love this poem. Apologies for the naughty language. (Howard)

And yes - Me Me Me!! I'm going to opening day! (Night) Look for me behind the first base line!

AmericanGirl

#5  31 March 2005 - 14:57

 

You lucky duck, you!!!! Okay, I am going to be looking for you!!!!

Leigh

#6  31 March 2005 - 16:00

 

Great poem ... I gotta check the schedule to see when the Yanks are coming to Oakland ... I'll wear my "Jews for Jeter" t-shirt ...

Jheka

#7  31 March 2005 - 17:07

 

Is there really such a shirt? For serious? I'm almost willing to convert just so I can wear one. "Straying Catholic Girls for Jeter" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Leigh, I'll wave to you!

AmericanGirl

#8  31 March 2005 - 17:15

 

OMG, there IS!!:



And not only that, there's THIS:



Damn! Why couldn't I be born a Jewish Male?? They get all the good stuff. :(

AmericanGirl

#9  31 March 2005 - 17:17

 

Not only is there such a shirt, but I own one. Check out Jewish Fashion Conspiracy for all of your funny Jew-wear.

Jheka

#10  31 March 2005 - 21:24

 

AG: The language thing is just for featured posts...I simply want all kinds of people to feel comfortable here and don't want to surprise someone with language they were not expecting to read.

As for the rest, I'm a salty curser and appreciator of the well-placed word of any color. Right time, right place is the key.

Interesting poem, thanks.

howard

Comments: