<lesh's "obscene caller">
2002-11-25.3:28 p.m.


Obscene Caller
Jenniffer Lesh


He had these strange hooded eyes,
a peculiar shade of yellow,
that flicked over her impassively,
although the corners
of his mouth turned up, almost
a smile. And his Italian suits
were cheapened
by the slick gunmetal gleam
of the fabric he loved best. 

Or so she imagined, having never
seen him. 

He'd often call her
late at night,
and the rasp of his voice
paralyzed her for long moments
so that she lay on her back
in the green carpet,
giving her tender belly up
to the sun
which was the ceiling lamp,
her muscles seizing
helplessly, 

as his voice wound circles
about her,
that voice in the back of his throat
rasping softly, like the coldest
of skins you must touch
finally,
expecting slime
but finding silk.



back /& forth /& frosting
names are often sad