Lyn Lifshin: poem

BASTILLE DAY, DIVORCE DAY

almost twice as
long ago as we
were together,
I'm on the metro
in a red leotard,

the color or torch
ginger, the red of
sirens, ambulances
and lips, no longer
subtle. It was not

a palest pink lips
day, but a fire
and ice, blood
red Monday. I
Wore white, as if

for a wedding, as
if I really believed
I could start again.

Lyn Lifshin's poetry has appeared damn near everywhere at one time or another. Her most recent book is Before It's Light (Black Sparrow).