Spin Cycle, By Paul Rabinowitz (Brooklyn, NY)

SPIN CYCLE

I remember

the first time

 

a hot summer day

Angels Laundromat

 

waiting for stains

to be released

from the fibers

of my white

collared shirt

 

across the folding table

your

          sparkling eyes

 

a tarnished

gold band

I slide from

my finger

 

as you remove

your clothes

from a wicker basket

 

ask if I can spare

detergent

 

turn the knob to

                    heavy-load

 

and watch suds

bust ‘round

your yellow dress

water darkening

with each churn

Outside My Window, By Paul Rabinowitz (Beacon, NY)

ROSE

This morning

outside my window

orange and red light

lingers on the edge

of a cloud

yellow turns gold

 

set upon the desk

where I write these poems

for you, a rose

opens wider

than I’ve ever

seen before

 

maybe god exists

or just a muse tapping

have faith it says

chose a common noun

for the title

of this collection

 

one syllable

is all you’ll need

then stand by it

be ready to defend

as the meaning

will change

and transform

over time

 

Cottage, By Paul Rabinowitz (Brooklyn, NY)

SOFTCOVER

I open

the blinds

cursing

 

biting cold

slashes flesh

our cottage

not made

for winter

 

Outside

a red-tailed hawk

pins

a hare

under talons

 

carnage

litters

the virgin snow

 

Inside

spread open

upon your pillow

a book

with soft cover

 

a love story

of sorts

 

the kind

I never read