Tryst

Blue-spoken earth, half in shadow
half in light, the sign white-taped
to a wet-looking red door. Knock
three times and whisper, “Contredanse
with me, Marie, for we are going to the sea.”

And when it opens, mouths keep
shut, and eyes all close and lips
draw part, and entrance steps click
concrete ground, tick tock tick
for what is found in spinning into bare

each other's arms, around and a-
rowing-round, mouths kept shut
and lips kept parted, contredanse
of clicking tongues, in half shadow
in half light, circling in and out of sight.