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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Frozen Heat - © Claudia Schlottman

05/19/10



Frozen Heat


I stumble, take a half step back 
fly down a dark shaft legs thrown up 
in a perfect vee. 

Birkenstocks scraping the roof of 
the tunnel fly off and pound my 
face. Dress blown over my head, my 
back heats and blisters with friction. 
I land hard in a frigid pool. 

Tears breach eyelids squeezed against 
the darkness, drain down my face in
rivulets of scorching sleet.

My mouth flies open and from it 
howls and screeches of poisonous
pain hurtle forth as from the throat 
of a wounded dog.  I peek out 
to see only darkness, no hint 
of light glowing in the distance. 

I hobble to my feet, groping
in the inky space for warmth.  
My feet burn scarlet with cold 
my teeth clack, arms break into a 
hot rash, then freeze.  I stagger, flee
the cold, falter forward seeking 
the warmth you stole in the fever
of your dying.                    

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Sarah at 13 -


Written 1998     © Claudia Schlottman Transcribed July 4, 2002







Sarah at Thirteen

She stands, hip cocked, in a
tank top--cotton knit, striped in
muted hues of blue, brown, green.
Hints of breasts push
against the fabric.
Chill bumps stand on slender
arms.  Thumbs hooked on belt loops
of jeans that sag over
boyish hips, she looks straight
ahead, shifts her weight.
Necklaces - tiny beads
strung together by a 
friend - gleam in the March sun.
[A dog tag (Old Navy)
hangs around her neck.]
Adidas--the perfect
pair--peek from beneath the puddled demin of her
[too-long] jeans.  She tosses
her hair--blonde, chin length, no
bangs.  Blue eyes flash beneath
dark brows, startling slashes
against her fair skin.
She turns, delivers a wide, unselfconscious
preorthodontic smile.