summer lovin'

Always one to try something new (ignore my husband laughing in the background), I read about Pantoum, a form of poetry writing, and thought I'd give it a shot. The lines duplicate in a pattern, so in a 10 line/phrase poem, for example, the stanzas would look like this: Lines 1,2,3,4 / 2,5,4,6 / 5,7,6,8 / 7,9,8,10 / 9,3,10,1. Wrote this one while camping with the kids and my folks.

love wraps its sunscreened arms around my damp neck
its sweaty, summer-sticky body pressed to mine
like bare flesh on station wagon vinyl--
peel it off and it leaves its mark

its sweaty, summer-sticky body pressed to mine
scented with the long, hot day
peel it off and it leaves its mark
love's lingering fragrance mingles with my own

scented with the long, hot day
oppressive in its desirous nature
love's lingering fragrance mingles with my own
clings to me with fierce affection

oppressive in its desirous nature
I bear the heat of love's attention
clings to me with fierce affection
such are the sweet sacrifices of summer

I bear the heat of love's attention
like bare flesh on station wagon vinyl--
such are the sweet sacrifices of summer
love wraps its sunscreened arms around my damp neck