Love of the Word, and: With Nothing or No One in Between, and: Lesson in Wearing Heels, 1994

LOVE OF THE WORD

As time went by, he markedthat grueling place in his heartas one he loved. A love of the word, eventipple.With the smoke and blazing light, the hearthwhere trains came to load up again,to be completely filled,rattling with noise and dirt, this tipple.Down the road, Hurricane Gap, furtherup the line, Jackson.And his place, above it all, the little freezingmetal shack.Overseeing the machinerythat moved like hands waving, transportington after ton of the black and hardenedearth, compounded by eons of heat and pressure.Now to bring heat to furnacesand stoves. A beautifulthing, this tipple.Once, he heard someoneuse the world he loved the other way,meaningjust a little drink, and he laughedas he set his empty glassback on the bar, and headedfor bed at home.

WITH NOTHING OR NO ONE IN BETWEEN

I heard him use the word, directly,and I knew he was cut from the righteouscloth. Knew he was of the promisedland, folded and refolded onto itselfto create mountains and ridges and hollers.Precious cloth that stood,like a baptismal gown,ruffled by a handlarger than any human.And I say, directly, brother,it is not how you say the word,but the word you are saying…directly,formed with a slight lilt.A rolling of your tonguethat makes me believeyou would be good at kissingin the backseat of a truck,and probably even betterat fixing it, directly.

LESSON IN WEARING HEELS, 1994

Take measured steps.Don't jut out your hipsor swing them too much.You will look like a giraffe,or, worse,a whore.Keep your chest up.Unsure steps taken acrossa slick tile floor.First pair of heels after five yearscirculating the sun.Stick tread on the bottomso you do not slideand tumbleand your slip come peekingout from beneath your skirt.Heaven forbid.Back straight.Don't look at your feet, honey,they'll think you are crazy.Walk like a grown woman.Stuff the toes with Kleenex,make them stay in place,wear a Band-Aid on your heel,try to keep the blisters from bubbling up under skin.Sometimes, playingthe "fairer sex,"is anything but fair.