Broken Borometer

the memory comes back to her
at the art opening
in the closet sized frame store
where the art is hung too close together
where the people are bunched too close together
where the three peice band is playing too close together
behind the register

the memory floods down her body
at the art opening
in the closet sized frame store
when she lets a woman passing touch her shoulder
when she feels a bead of sweat run down the middle of her back
when she smells Hazel's perfume
in the humid july air

she wants the memory in a painting
at the art opening
in the closet sized frame store
of hazel's timid first touch
of hazel's jovial climax
of hazel's graceful rejections
when she asked to dance

she leaves the memory
at the art opening
in the closet sized frame store
where Chris's oils didn't sell
where Chris's friends asked
"where's chris's wife hazel?"
in whispers over their wine.